WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - With four minutes left in play, sophomore Hayden Pardoe (Mill Hall, Pa. / Central Mountain) hit a jumper and layup and first-year Noah Mathis (Ewing, N.J. / Notre Dame) followed up with a jumper that tied the game with 2:43 remaining, but the University of Scranton pushed ahead in the final moments as the Lycoming College men's basketball team fell, 63-55, in Landmark Conference action on Wednesday night, Feb. 19, at Lamade Gym.
 
Pardoe started the Warriors' scoring in the second half with a layup 17 seconds into play. Senior Ivan Komitski (Sofia, Bulgaria / Lee Academy (Maine)) added two free throws in the third minute, which sophomore Connor Shanahan (Chester Springs, Pa. / Downingtown East) followed up with a layup after darting down the court. Less than a minute later, junior Isaiah Valentine (Mifflinburg, Pa. / Mifflinburg Area) drained a 3-pointer, bringing the Warriors within two points of the Royals, 35-33. Mathis launched the ball at the hoop, and it bounced three times before dropping in and tying the game at 35. Seconds later, Scranton responded with a 3-pointer to reclaim their game-long lead.
 
Darting down the court, Shanahan brought the game within a point with a layup six minutes into play. Komitski drained a 3-pointer to claim the lead by two, which Scranton met with a 3-pointer of their own 13 seconds later. Pardoe drove forward to make a jumper at the bottom of the seventh minute, gaining a one-point lead for the Warriors. A free throw by Scranton tied the game again at 42, and the Royals claimed a two-point advantage in the ninth minute with a jumper. Pardoe added a layup with eight minutes remaining as the Royals attempted to widen their lead with layups. With 6:19 left on the clock, Komitski brought the game within three points with a 3-pointer.
 
Scranton jumped out with two 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the first half before Pardoe pushed forward with a 3-pointer of his own in the third minute, bringing the score to 6-3.  After the Royals widened their advantage with two layups, Komitski and Pardoe each added a 3-pointer, bringing the game within one point, 10-9. Valentine added two free throws in the ninth minute before following up with a jumper in the 10^th minute, keeping the Warriors within three points of the Royals.
 
Scranton separated with three free throws, a layup and two jumpers. Valentine added a free throw with six minutes remaining, which Scranton countered with their own free throws seconds later. Mathis drove forward with a layup with four minutes left on the clock. First-year Brian Kopp (Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa) followed up with a 3-pointer seconds later to close the Warriors within 10 points of the Royals. The Warriors continued their offensive efforts into the last minute as first-year Blessing Ekwuazi (Flmington, N.J. / Warren Hills) launched a jumper with 42 seconds remaining, ending the period with the Warriors down, 33-24.
 
Pardoe led the Warriors (3-21 overall, 2-15 Landmark) with 18 points. Komitski followed, adding 11 points, and Valentine contributed eight to the board. Komitski also made eight rebounds and Valentine contributed six assists to help Lycoming's efforts.
 
Mason Thompson led the Royals (12-12 overall, 7-10 Landmark) with 15 points. Jon Spatola and Sammy Tornabene both added 12 points to help the Royals to victory. Tornabene also made six rebounds to lead the efforts.

The Warriors travel to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. for the season finale against Catholic University of America, a Landmark Conference game.