WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Freshman T.J. Duckett (Severna Park, Md./Calvert Hall) led the Lycoming College men's basketball team with 15 points and three steals, as the team shook off 16 days of rust with a 67-56 win over Washington College in the opening round of the sixth annual Louis Fleming Basinger Memorial Touranment on Tuesday evening, Dec. 29, in Lamade Gym.
 
The Warriors (8-2 overall) advance to the championship game for the sixth time in as many years and will look to pick up its first Basinger Tournament title since 2012 when it faces Old Westbury at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30 to cap the tournament. Old Westbury outlasted York (Pa.), 53-51, in overtime in the other first round game on Tuesday.
 
The Warriors shot just 38 percent (23-of-60) and were outrebounded, 42-41, for just the third time this season, but the aggressive offense led to 28 free throws while sterling defense forced 25 turnovers and allowed just 13 free throws and the Shoreman (1-6 overall) to shoot just 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field.
 
Lycoming began to take control of the game late in the first half, pushing out on a 18-3 run in the final nine minutes to take a 33-19 lead into the break. Senior Eric Ishman (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King) started the run with a driving layup before hitting a 3-pointer. Junior Nykolas King (Harlem, N.Y./Manhattan Center for Science & Math) added four points during the run, and in all, the Warriors held the Shoreman without a field goal for the last 10:17 of the half.
 
In the second half, the Warriors continued the run, scoring the first 11 points of the half to take a 44-19 lead after a fastbreak bucket by Duckett off a give from junior David Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Communications Tech). The Warriors kept a 20-point lead through the first six minutes of the half before Washington was able to go on a 21-6 run to make it a seven-point game at 55-48 with 8:20 left. King responded with the next three points, though, and a transition 3-pointer by Duckett made it a 13-point game with 5:51 left.
 
The Shoremen closed within 10 points only once more, with 1:40 left, but Lycoming responded with a jumper in the paint by King on the ensuing possession to sustain the threat.
 
King finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two steals and sophomore Alex Newbold (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic) added 10 points, four rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Chris Wallace (Randallstown, Md./Calvert Hall) added eight points and two steals and Johnson finished with five points, six rebounds and a career-high seven assists.
 
Dave Knox led the Shoremen with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Clay Smith added 11 points and three 3-pointers. Washington hit 10-of-25 (40 percent) from behind the arc. Jordan Owens added nine points, six assists and five rebounds.