Lebanon Valley 78, Albright 70
LVC Starters
Light, Bugg, Anderson, Orr, Boccanfuso
Albright Starters
Lindsay, Rowles, Dancy, Rappoport, Smith
How It Happened
Following one of the team's biggest wins in recent memory, there was no let down for Lebanon Valley.
Just three days after handing No. 6 Lycoming its first loss of the season, LVC followed it up with a 78-70 comeback victory over an Albright team that received 46 votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The Flying Dutchmen (11-4, 5-1 MAC Commonwealth) erased an early double-digit deficit before pulling away from their longtime rivals at Albright's Bollman Center on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 6.
Sam Light and Andy Orr continued their strong play as of late, with each player recording a double-double. Light scored a game-high 30 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Orr netted 22 and grabbed 13 boards. Luke Stambaugh and Zach Tucker turned in key performances off the bench, with Stambaugh racking up 14 tallies and Tucker adding eight points and five boards.
Lebanon Valley got off to a slow start as the Lions (11-2, 4-1 MAC Commonwealth) jumped out to a 16-3 advantage at the 14:55 mark of the opening half but Stambaugh halted the initial Albright run by bookending a pair of 3-pointers around a Light triple that drew the visitors to within four at the 12:42 mark.
The Lions continued to cling to their narrow margin until the LVC defense clamped down, holding the home team to nine points in the final eight minutes of the first half. The Dutchmen continued their timely shooting and took their first lead of the day when Collin Moore converted a pair of free throws with 2:26 remaining until halftime.
The back-and-forth affair continued after the break before Lebanon Valley put together a key 19-4 run midway through the second half. Stambaugh shined during the span, creating two turnovers and netting eight points, including consecutive jumpers from beyond the arc that put the Dutchmen out in front by double digits for the first time.
LVC took its largest lead of the game when Light converted three layups in a row to put the visitors ahead 72-58 with 4:18 left to play. The Lions were forced to foul in the closing moments but Caleb Barwin, Light, Orr, and Tucker converted free throws to seal the hard-fought victory.
Inside the Numbers
- The Dutchmen defense held Albright to 36.6 percent shooting from the field, despite the Lions taking 71 shots on the day.
- LVC shot 47.2 percent from the field, including an impressive 53.3 percent (8-15) from 3-point territory.
- The Lebanon Valley reserves outscored the Lions' bench 25-13.
- Albright forced 20 Dutchmen turnovers and scored 27 points off those mistakes.
- LVC outrebounded the Lions 43-38.
- Albright launched 29 shots from beyond the arc, connecting on just eight of those attempts.
- Sam Light played all 40 minutes and recorded his first double-double of the season with 30 points and 10 rebounds. He also had three steals.
- For Andy Orr, it was his seventh double-double of the year. He finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks.
- Luke Stambaugh turned in the best performance of his young career. He played 30 minutes and scored 14 points, swiped a pair of steals, and grabbed four boards. He finished 4-5 from 3-point range.
- Zach Tucker continues to impress during his freshman campaign. He played a career-high 33 minutes and scored eight points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.
That Dutchmen Duo
During one of the most crucial stretches of the season, Lebanon Valley running mates Sam Light and Andy Orr have played some of their best basketball this year. In the pair of victories over No. 6 Lycoming and Albright, Light is posting 28.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while Orr is averaging a double-double with 18.5 tallies and 12.5 boards per contest.
Who's Next?
The Dutchmen will try to keep their hot streak rolling when they host another talented conference foe in Arcadia at Sorrentino Gymnasium on Wednesday evening, Jan. 10.
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