CHESTER, Pa. – Sophomore Nykolas King (New York, N.Y./Manhattan Center for Science & Math) scored six points in the final five minutes to help the Lycoming College men's basketball team win its fifth straight game with a  63-52 Commonwealth Conference victory at Widener University's Schwartz Athletic Center on Wednesday night, Feb. 4.
 
King finished with 14 points, as he was one of three Warriors (15-6 overall, 10-2 Commonwealth) to finish in double figures, along with senior Malcolm Covington (Springfield Gardesn, N.Y./Blessed Sacrament), who posted 15 points, and freshman Alex Newbold (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic) added 11.
 
In the process, the first-place Warriors clinched a spot in the Commonwealth Conference Tournament with the win and a 66-49 win by Arcadia over sixth-place Lebanon Valley.
 
"We're just focusing on us and going one game at a time," Rancourt said. "It wasn't pretty, but I am happy that we were able to deflate the crowd. We kept them out of it. I am really impressed in the closing minutes of the game with how our guys ratchet up the defensive intensity."
 
A 3-pointer by Mark Pryzbolkowski helped Widener tie the game at 45 with just over 6:00 left. After a pair of fruitless possessions, Newbold picked up a steal under the basket and went coast-to-coast for the tie-breaking layup. The Warriors extended the lead to five points with 3:40 left after Covington drove in for a quick score. The Pride cut the lead back to three points with a layup by David Nicholson, but the Warriors responded when senior Patrick Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) hit a 3-pointer from the left side to make it 53-47.
 
After a missed shot by the Pride, King turned in a beautiful traditional 3-point play with 1:27 left before he hit 3-of-4 at the line to help seal the win in the final 90 seconds.
 
In the first half, the Warriors jumped out to a 13-0 lead through the game's first six minutes, which was extended to 22-9 with 7:08 left after a jumper by freshman Justin Iton (Hackensack, N.J./Dwight Morrow). The Pride closed the half on a 16-6 run, though, to close within three points of the Warriors at 28-25 at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Pride were able to keep the game close, closing within 33-32 before the Warriors went on a 10-6 run to stretch the lead to five points. The Pride fought back to tie it at 45 though, by going on their own 7-2 run.
 
Freshman Casey Vickers (Terre Haute, Ind./Bridgton Academy) finished with a career-high eight points and two 3-pointers.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Saturday, Feb. 7, when they head to Albright for another Commonwealth Conference doubleheader. The women play at 2 p.m. before the men tip at 4 p.m.