The Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team picked up their first conference win of the season against visiting Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 89-77, in front of a packed house Dec. 5 at Cedar Crest College in Allentown.
Sophomore Edward Sanchez led Lehigh Valley with a career-high 29 points, shooting 9 for 14 from the field, 4 for 5 from three-point range and 7 for 7 from the free throw line. Sophomore Edward Hudak recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Tyler Krchnavi contributed his first season double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The first half saw six lead changes until the six and a half minute mark when Lehigh Valley sophomore Sekous Mangassabou dunked the ball from an Edward Sanchez assist. Lehigh Valley would then go on a 16-10 run to end the half leading 44-36.
Sanchez opened the second half on fire, scoring 11 straight points to give Lehigh Valley a 60-52 lead with just over 13 minutes to go. Wilkes-Barre would fight back to take the lead 73-72 with a little over six minutes.
Sophomore Tyler King and Edward Hudak hit back to back three-pointers to give Lehigh Valley the lead for good.
"I am so proud of my guys getting the first win of the year. We have been focusing on playing with maximum effort for 40 minutes and I think we achieved that goal," said first-year head coach Mike DeCarolis, who achieved picked his first collegiate coaching victory.
The Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team downed the defending Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Champions and USCAA National Champions Penn State Beaver, 71-66, on Dec. 6 at Cedar Crest College in Allentown to improve to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in PSUAC play.
Sophomore Andrea Watkins shot 12 for 23 from the field and 14 for 20 from the free throw line for a career-high of 38 points. Freshman Llaci Henry chipped in with 12 points including the go-ahead basket with one minute left in the game.
Watkins opened the game scoring the first two baskets followed by jumper from Gia Erie to give Lehigh Valley a 6-0 start and fueling a 19-13 lead after the first quarter. Lehigh Valley would have stifling defense in the second quarter to hold Beaver to just three points and take a 28-16 halftime lead.
Watkins opened the third quarter with a lay-up off an assist from Ashley Gordon. Beaver would rally back and go on a 15-2 run to pull within one with about five and a half minutes to go in the third. Lehigh Valley would answer with their own run; including a lay-up by Watkins and back to back three point shots by Gordon and Nicole Amann, which would fuel a 52-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Lehigh Valley would lead 60-50 with just over seven minutes to go, but Beaver once again would rally back to score the next five points pulling within five with just under six minutes remaining. Watkins would answer with two baskets to give Lehigh Valley a 64-55 lead. Beaver would have one last fight in scoring the next six baskets to lead 66-64 with 90 seconds left in the game. Lehigh Valley's Henry would score the next two baskets and two free throws to give Lehigh Valley the lead for good.
This victory marks the first win for Penn State Lehigh Valley Women's Basketball in school history over conference and national powerhouse Penn State Beaver.
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