WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Sophomore J.J. Beagle (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) posted career highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds to pace a group of four Lycoming College men's basketball players in double figures, but a solid-shooting effort helped the University of Scranton post a 78-70 Landmark Conference win on Wednesday night, Jan. 17, at Lamade Gym.
 
Senior Steven Hamilton (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area) finished with 15 points and six assists, sophomore Isaiah Valentine (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) added 13 points, three assists and three steals and junior Ivan Komitski (Sofia, Bulgaria/Lee Academy) added 10 points, hitting two 3-pointers.
 
The Warriors (6-10 overall, 2-7 Landmark) shot 41 percent (22-of-54) from the field and 91 percent (19-of-21) at the free throw line to stay with the Royals (4-12 overall, 2-7 Landmark), who shot 58 percent from the field (28-of-59) and 50 percent (10-of-20) from 3-point range. Lycoming held a 35-30 advantage on the glass, but Scranton scored 12 points off 11 Lycoming turnovers.
 
Scranton jumped out to a 10-0 lead and led by as many as 11 before the Warriors went on a 13-4 run to close within two after Komitski drained a trey with 7:36 left. Scranton scored the next eight points, though and built the lead to 15 before a pair of free throws from first-year J.T. Kirbie (Spring, Texas/Klein Cain) sent the game into halftime with Scranton up 44-31.
 
The Royals held a double-digit lead until a 3-pointer from Hamilton with 13:09 left in the game made it 53-46 and another Hamilton trey midway through the half cut the lead to three at 55-52 but Scranton went on a nine-point run over a three-minute span to get the lead back to 12 with 5:54 left. The Warriors were only able to get as close as seven in the closing minutes.
 
Luca Baratta notched 21 points, five rebounds and three assists, Teddy Spratt had 16 points, Tahaj Parland notched 12 points and four assists and Jon Spatola notched 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Royals.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 20, when they head to Elizabethtown for a 2 p.m. Landmark Conference game before the women's teams play at 4 p.m.