WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – As the shot clock wore down and the game clock crawled under 30 seconds, sophomore Steven Hamilton (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area) found the space, drove the lane and floated a jumper perfectly into the net, giving the Lycoming College a five-point advantage and help it secure a 69-62 win over Wilkes University in MAC Freedom action at Lamade Gym on Wednesday night, Jan. 12.
 
Junior Dyson Harward (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) swatted away Wilkes' ensuing shot attempt, getting fouled after grabbing the rebound. He hit both free throws with nine seconds left to make up the final margin, as the Warriors (10-5 overall, 5-1 MAC Freedom) won their sixth game in seven outings during the semester break.
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lycoming Athletics (@lycoathletics)

Junior DeAundre Manuel (Brooklyn, N.Y./KIPP NYC Prep) paced the Warriors in many ways, posting 11 points, a career-high six assists, a career-high five steals and five rebounds. Junior Mo Terry (Severn, Md./Severn School) posted 20 points, reaching 20 for the second time in three games, adding seven rebounds. Harward finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
 
Leading by two at halftime, the Warriors pulled out on a 19-5 run early in the second half, with sophomore Mavin James (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) hitting a 3-pointer off a steal from Manuel to cap the run and give Lycoming a 52-36 lead with 12:50 left.
 
The Colonels (3-9 overall, 1-4 MAC Freedom) cut the lead down to 10 with nine minutes left and then a 14-3 run helped the Colonels take the lead after an old fashioned three-point play from Cayden Merrifield with 3:18 left.
 
Terry hit a 3-pointer in response off a give from Hamilton to make it 62-60 and then a turnover at midcourt led to a 3-pointer in transition from Terry to make it 65-60 with 1:13 left. The Colonels got a second chance layup in response, setting up Hamilton's game-icing bucket.
 
Wilkes opened the game with a 19-7 run in the first 8:40 before the Warriors responded with 16 straight points to take a 23-19 lead with 4:39 left in the half after a 3-pointer from Ilodigwe. The two teams fought through four lead changes before the end of the half, with a 3-pointer from Terry off a pass from James rounding out the scoring and giving Lycoming a 31-29 lead at the break.
 
Senior Matt Ilodigwe (Wilmington, Del./Concord) posted nine points and four rebounds, hitting three 3-pointers, and James added eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. Hamilton finished with seven points, five rebounds and three assists.
 
Wilkes was led by 15 points a piece from Jackson Shafer and Derek Heiserman. Heiserman added seven rebounds. Joey Zvorsky had 14 points. Cayden Merrifield notched four assists and two steals.
 
The Warriors get back on the court when they face first-place DeSales University on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 3 p.m. in Lamade Gym.