WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Sophomore Jerald Williams (Riverdale, Md./Bladensburg) posted his first career double-double as he posted 18 points and 12 assists and junior Mike Bradley (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) added 20 points as the Lycoming College men's basketball team used an aggressive defense to create offense on Thursday, Dec. 30, helping it to a 98-78 win over Shenandoah University at Lamade Gym in non-conference action.
Williams added four rebounds and a steal to go with his 12 assists, the sixth time in his career he eclipsed 10 dimes in a game, all while turning the ball over just twice. He added 18 points, two shy of his career-high, as he shot 7-of-8 from the floor, missing just one of his two 3-pointers.
Bradley finished with a season-high 20 points, aided by a perfect 10-of-10 effort from the charity stripe. He also added six rebounds and two of the team's 13 steals.
A solid pressing defense helped the Warriors (8-3 overall) take a nine-point lead before the Hornets (1-9 overall) got a shot off, as a steal by freshman Tyrone McFadden (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeater-Strasburg) led to the team's fastbreak layup from Williams. A steal by Bradley led to a jumper from Bradley, assisted by Williams and another Shenandoah turnover led to a jumper from senior Will Kelly (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) on another dime from Williams. Kelly returned the favor on the next play after a Hornets' turnover, as Williams canned a trey from the right side.
From there, the Hornets never closed within five points, which they did after two free throws from Mitch Dudley with 5:21 left in the first half. However, Kelly responded with a trey to start a 13-2 run that included four points each from McFadden and sophomore John Ryan Wolff (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury), giving the Warriors a 45-29 advantage with 2:39 left in the half. The Hornets were able to cut the lead to 10 points at 52-42 at halftime thanks to a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute.
Shenandoah cut the lead to eight points early in the second half, but a bucket in the paint by Williams with 19:08 left put the Warriors in command of a double-digit lead and a 10-0 run that started a minute later ensured that the Hornets never got back within 10 points. A 3-pointer from Kelly with 14:14 left helped the Warriors take a 66-46 lead and the team stretched the lead to as many as 25 points while never letting it fall to less than 15 points during the rest of the game.
The Warriors dominated defensively in the game despite being outrebounded, 45-41, as they forced 25 turnovers, helping them score 36 points, while allowing just 11 turnovers and nine points off turnover. The turnovers also led to 21 fastbreak points.
Kelly finished with 13 points, three treys, seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals and freshman Kevin Anthony (Atlanta, Ga./Bridgton Academy) added nine points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Senior Sebastian Sabella (Bayside, N.Y./Episcopal School) added eight points and four rebounds and sophomore Ihsaan Davis (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) scored eight points in just seven minutes of action.
Mitch Dudley led the Hornets with 15 points and 16 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season and Avery Green, who posted 16 points. Trevor Jones added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists and Kevin Kline notched 10 points and three assists.
The Warriors get back on the court on Monday, Jan. 3 when they host the Louis Fleming Basinger Memorial Tournament. The Warriors play the first game of the tournament against Penn State DuBois at 6 p.m. at Lamade Gym before Delaware Valley and Worcester State face each other at 8 p.m. On Tuesday, Jan. 4, the consolation game will start at 2 p.m. and the championship is set for 4 p.m.