Men's Basketball Splits in PSUAC Play This Weekend

RECAP FROM FRIDAY, DEC. 2 & SATURDAY, DEC. 3

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Men's Basketball team improved to 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in PSUAC play by splitting a pair of PSUAC conference games this weekend by dropping a close game to PSU York 77-70 Friday evening in York and bouncing back by defeating PSU Brandywine in a nailbiter 83-78 Saturday afternoon in Media. 

Lehigh Valley came out of the gates in the second half on fire to cut into a 38-27 York halftime lead but it was not enough to overcome York's dominate play by Trent Thomas who had 34 points. Senior Jordan Young led Lehigh Valley with 26 points. Freshman Othniel Nyamekye contributed with 12 points. 

With a quick turn around, Lehigh Valley bounced back to down PSU Brandywine in a nailbiter Saturday afternoon. Lehigh Valley built a 14-2 lead five minutes into the game and pushed the advantage to 13 at the 11:11 mark, but Brandywine steadily chipped away.

Brandywine opened the second half with eight-straight points, taking its first lead of the game.Penn State Brandywine rallied from a 13-point deficit to take a second-half lead, but Penn State Lehigh Valley retook the lead for good with under three minutes to play and held off Brandywine 83-78.

Brandywine led 70-64, but nine consecutive Lehigh Valley points, including a pair of putbacks by freshman Othniel Nyamekye, gave Lehigh Valley a 73-70 edge with 2:22 to play.

Brandywine buried a jumper to make it a one-point game, but Nyamekye grabbed another offensive board and sank a lyup to answer.

With 44 seconds to play, Brandywine connected on a jumper to pull Brandywine within 78-76; however Lehigh Valley sank five-of-six free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

The team's traded baskets over the next 12 minutes, with neither squad leading by more than three points until a Brandywine run gave them a 69-64 edge at the 6:10 mark. Lehigh Valley would take control however, as Brandywine managed just one point over the next 4:07.

A.J. Molettiere drained six three-pointers and paced Lehigh Valley with 25 points. Jonathan Buie added a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double. Nyamekye contributed 11 points.

Lehigh Valley will have one week of play left before the end of the semester, hosting PSU Mont Alto this Tuesday at 8 PM at Cedar Crest College and then traveling to PSU Wilkes Barre on Friday evening for a 8 PM tip-off.

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