WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Senior Will Kelly (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) posted 18 points and 13 rebounds and the Lycoming College men's basketball team lasted through two late shot attempts by Wilkes to come away with a tough 72-71 win in non-conference action at the Marts Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors (6-3 overall) fell behind 57-55 with 5:45 left after a 3-pointer from Paul Huch, and after each team hit a free throw, sophomore Ihsaan Davis (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) was fouled on a 3-pointer and he converted all three shots to take a 59-58 lead.
The teams then each traded a layup, with Kelly converting Lycoming's before Huch hit a trey to take a 63-61 lead. However, junior Mike Bradley (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) found sophomore Jerald Williams (Riverdale, Md./Bladensburg) on the outside and Williams connected on a trey with 3:28 left.
After a missed jumper by Wilkes, senior Sebastian Sabella (Bayside, N.Y./Episcopal School) hit a layup on an unusual play where he was called for a foul after the ball was released, so the basket was counted.
The Colonels (3-5 overall) cut the lead to a point on a layup by Kendall Hinze with 2:12 left and Bradley followed with a pair of free throws to extend it back to three points at 68-65. After Wilkes hit a pair of free throws, freshman Kevin Anthony (Atlanta, Ga./Bridgton Academy) hit a jumper. Hinze hit a layup and Bradley answered with 30 seconds left to make it 72-69 with 30 seconds left. Matt Mullins hit a layup with 24 seconds left and after a foul and a missed Warriors' free throw, the Lycoming defense held strong, forcing two misses in the final five seconds to secure the win.
Wilkes leapt out to a 14-2 lead with 11:57 left before Lycoming fought back with a 22-6 run over the next 8:07 to help the Warriors take a 24-20 lead with 3:49 left, led by six points apiece from Davis and Anthony. A pair of 3-pointers from Kelly and Davis helped the Warriors extend the lead to five points before a Wilkes' free throw helped the Warriors take a 32-28 lead into the locker room.
After a 3-pointer by Wilkes cut the lead to one point, the Warriors ripped off nine straight points, led by treys from Kelly and Sabella to take a 41-31 lead with 16:59 left. Wilkes fought back, though, as they notched a 19-8 run to take a 50-49 lead with 11:04 left. After that, the teams traded the lead four times before Wilkes' 3-pointer from Huch started the closing sequence.
Kelly posted his first double-double of the season and added two steals, as he knocked down two 3-pointers to move within one trey of 100 in his career. Bradley posted 12 points, four rebounds and two assists and Davis posted 14 points, three assists and two 3-pointers in his first game coming off the bench this season. Anthony posted nine points, five rebounds, a block and a steal, while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. Williams also added nine points, six assists, three steals and a key two 3-pointers. Sabella also notched seven points, five rebounds and a career-high tying five assists.
Hinze posted 19 points and 10 rebounds and Huch added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Chris DeRojas was held to 13 points and eight assists and Mullins notched 15 points and four assists.
The Warriors will wrap up their three-game road trek next Sunday, Dec. 19, when they head to Dickinson for a 1 p.m. clash.