MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Behind a smothering defensive effort and Isaiah Eggleston's career-high 31 points, Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team cruised to a comfortable 73-64 conference victory over United East rival Lancaster Bible at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11.


As a defensive unit, the Lions (9-6, 6-1 United East) held Lancaster Bible (9-6, 4-2 United East) to 34.4 percent shooting and well below its 81.2 points-per-game average. Eggleston poured in a career-high 31 points and posted his third double-double of the season with a dozen rebounds. Chris Henderson scored 13 points, while Jordan Spencer and Kevin Lucas Jr. chipped in with eight points apiece.


Penn State Harrisburg opened the game on a 12-2 run keyed by a pair of Henderson 3-pointers and six points from Eggleston. The Chargers pulled to within one thanks to an old-fashioned 3-point play by Connor Storr at the 8:21 mark but Lucas ignited a crucial run for the Lions by converting a driving layup while being fouled before burying back-to-back deep 3-balls to cap a crucial 10-2 run and force an LBC timeout.





The Lions closed out the half with a burst of pressure defense that led to a couple of transition layups and a one-handed jam by Henderson before Eggleston scored seven straight, including a buzzer-beating dunk of his own that pushed the advantage to 42-29 at the break.


Larry Onabanwo opened the second half with an uncontested trifecta and consecutive field goals from Spencer stretched the lead to 20 for the first time with 14:49 left to play. Penn State Harrisburg took its largest lead of the game midway through the second half when Eggleston caused a turnover, converted a layup through contact and sank the ensuing free throw to make it 59-36 with 9:55 to go.


The defense kept Lancaster Bible at arm's length as the half wore down but Spencer stole the show and blew the roof off with a monstrous one-handed slam over a Charger defender that sent the hometown faithful and Penn State Harrisburg bench into a celebratory frenzy. LBC's Grant Sareyka scored eight straight points in garbage time to cut the deficit to single digits for the first time since the game's opening minutes but it proved far too little too late.
 

NOTABLES
- Penn State Harrisburg shot an impressive 52.5 percent from the field (32-of-61) while holding the Chargers to 34.4 percent shooting from the floor (24-of-59).
- The Lions were dominant down low, scoring 46 points in the paint and outrebounding Lancaster Bible 42-28.
- LBC's bench outscored the Penn State Harrisburg reserves 25-12.
- Eggleston recorded his third double-double of the year with a career-high 31 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He also added three blocks, three steals and three assists. 
- Henderson tallied 13 points, five assists and four boards.
- Spencer finished with eight points and five rebounds.
- Lucas provided a massive spark off the bench, burying a pair of deep 3-balls and finishing with eight points and three rebounds.
- Onabanwo had a nice outing, adding seven points and a game-high six assists.
- In addition to his stingy defense, Douglas added a game-high six assists and six rebounds.
 

WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions face another tough test in conference play when they travel to Bryn Athyn on Tuesday night.


STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.