"Jerald knew how talented Delaware Valley was," Lycoming head coach Guy Rancourt said. "I think he took that as a personal challenge and he came in and rose to the occasion. I am real happy for him."
The win was the Warriors' 14th straight against the Aggies (5-5 overall) and helped secure the team's second tournament title of the year, also winning the Lycoming Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 19-20. That time, Williams was a member of the All-Tournament Team. This time, although he averaged just seven points per game in wins over Penn State DuBois and Delaware Valley, he contributed an average of 13.5 assists and five steals per game to take the MVP title.
Williams' main benefactors were sophomore Ihsaan Davis (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King), who scored a team season-high 27 points thanks to seven treys and freshman Kevin Anthony (Atlanta, Ga./Bridgton Academy), who scored a career-high 19 points and added eight rebounds. Senior Will Kelly (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) added 16 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the year, as the Warriors' scored 24 fastbreak points and shot 44 (34-for-78) percent from the floor and a hot 48 (10-of-21) percent from 3-point range while just turning the ball over nine times.
"We played well as a team," Williams said. "There's no way I get to 17 assists without my teammates. I played well in transition, but that feeds off our practice. Coach tells me at practice every day to push the ball."
For the third straight game, the Warriors (10-3 overall) started the game with eight straight points, with Williams assisting on treys for Davis and Kelly in the run. However, the Aggies answered with a 12-4 run to tie the game with 15:30 left in the first half.
The Warriors took the lead back with a 10-2 run led by Williams, who dished out two assists on fastbreak layups during the run. The Aggies scored seven straight points to cut the lead to three points, but Williams found Davis on back-to-back-to-back treys to build the lead to 12 points.
"Ihsaan did a great job," Rancourt said. "He was steady at the 3-point line. He's a good shooter when he's open and I'm glad he had this breakout game."
The Aggies closed within five points after a 3-pointer from Jason Goldheimer with 1:24 left, but Williams found Kelly for an pair of open 3-pointers, then he forced a pair of steals that led to buckets, helping the Warriors take a 47-32 lead into halftime.
Williams finished the first half alone with 11 dimes and Davis scored 19, passing 500 career points in the process.
The Aggies used a 7-0 run early in the second-half to cut the lead to eight points before Williams hit a pair of free throws and Davis scored on a fastbreak give from Williams. After a Delaware Valley miss, Williams found Davis on the break again for an open 3-pointer, helping the Warriors take a 58-43 lead and ignite a 14-2 run that was capped by a fastbreak layup from Williams off a steal from Davis with 12:30 left.
Delaware Valley worked to cut the 20-point lead down from there, and a 3-pointer from James Jones made it 83-73 with 3:29 left, but the Warriors answered, as Anthony hit a layup inside and freshman Justin Miller (Agawam, Mass./Bridgton Academy) hit a fastbreak dunk on a dish from Williams, helping seal the win, as Delaware Valley never got back within 13 points.
Miller finished with eight points and four rebounds and senior Sebastian Sabella (Bayside, N.Y./Episcopal School) and freshman Michael Rudy (Danville, Pa./Danville) each added three points and seven rebounds. Freshman Tyrone McFadden (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) posted six points and three rebounds.
Williams' 17 dimes shattered the previous school-record of 14 set by Brad Musser against Elmira on Dec. 17, 2005, and he also added four steals to move into seventh in school history with 122 in his career.
Kelly also earned All-Tournament team honors after averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the Basinger Tournament.
Jeremy Beckett posted 27 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Aggies and Jones posted 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Nathan Bollinger notched 13 points and Chris Ellis posted 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
In the consolation game, Worcester State (2-10 overall) defeated Penn State DuBois (5-6 overall), 71-65.
The Warriors get back on the court on Saturday, Jan. 8 for a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader against Widener that will get underway at 1 p.m. with the women's game before the men tip at 3 p.m.
All-Tournament Team
Jerald Williams, Lycoming – MVP
Josh Salter (PSU DuBois)
Dave Douillette (Worcester St.)
Jeremy Beckett (Delaware Valley)
Will Kelly (Lycoming)