Box Score Box Score

GRANTHAM, Pa. – With a Commonwealth Conference record of 9-3, the Lycoming College men’s basketball team guaranteed itself a playoff spot after defeating Messiah College 79-66 on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Two Warriors reached the 20-point mark in the contest.

Lycoming (19-4, 9-3) will host at least one game during the Commonwealth playoffs, with its opponent to be determined at the conclusion of the season. This will be the first time in second-year head coach Guy Rancourt’s career the Warriors will advance to the post season.

The Warrior shooters opened strong, hitting 14 of their 31 first half attempts to head into halftime with a 12-point advantage, 36-24. Will Kelly was the only player to reach double figures in the first stanza, going five-of-six from the floor for 10 points. Eric Anthony tallied six points, as did Conference Player of the Week Mike Bradley. Five different Warriors grabbed two rebounds.

Lycoming continued its impressive shooting in the second half, going 52.2 (12-23) percent from the field and building to an 18-point lead at 15:05. Anthony’s shooting was on course, hitting four of his five attempts in the half, including two-for-two from beyond the arc. He was also a perfect six-for-six from the charity stripe. Kelly again reached double-digits in the second 20 minutes, putting up another 11 points. Anthony and James Oberlies each came down with four rebounds.

Anthony finished the game with 22 points, followed closely by Kelly’s 21. Freshman Johnathan Williams chipped in 11 points. Oberlies was the team’s leading rebounder, pulling down six boards, all of which came on defense. Anthony grabbed another five, while also recording two assists and two steals.

Lycoming shot 48.1 (26-54) percent from the field in the game, including eight of 16 from deep. Rebounding was a key component to the win, as the Warriors outrebounded Messiah 39-29. Lycoming’s 15 offensive rebounds helped the team score 16 second chance points. The Warrior substitutes outscored Messiah’s bench, 24-18.

The Falcons (14-8, 7-5) were led by Jamie Yoder with 16 points, followed by Josh Hartman’s 12. Kyle Snyder had the game-high in rebounds with nine. Messiah relied heavily on the deep shots, taking 32 three-point attempts, but could only connect on 10.

The Warriors will play their final road game of the season at Elizabethtown College on Thursday, Feb. 18. Tip-off will be at 8 p.m. following a women’s basketball game.