SCRANTON, Pa. — The Lycoming College men's basketball put together one of its best perimeter showings of the season and made it a one‑possession game in the final minute, but a pair of late free throws helped Scranton hold on for a 77–72 Landmark Conference win on Wednesday night, Jan. 14, at the John Long Center.
 
Senior guard Isaiah Valentine (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) poured in a career-high 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting with eight 3-pointers, the most by a Warrior this season and tied for sixth-most in program offense, to key a Lycoming offense that shot 48.2 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from three. Junior forward Hayden Pardoe (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain) added 8 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals, while freshman guard Noa'Sosa Friedman (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) finished with 10 points and 5 boards.
 
Scranton led 36–34 at halftime after the two teams traded five lead changes and two ties in the first 20 minutes, then used a five-point run midway through the second half to build a nine-point cushion. Lycoming kept firing after falling behind 75-66 with 2:49 left, as senior J.J. Beagle (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) hit a layup to start a run of six straight points, trimming the deficit to 75–72 on Valentine's put‑back with 37 seconds left before Spatola knocked down two free throws with eight seconds to seal it.
 
Junior Connor Shanahan (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) handed out seven of Lycoming's 19 assists, also adding nine points, and first-year Elisha Slabach (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona) also added nine points, hitting three 3-pointers, to go with five rebounds and two steals.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they head to Elizabethtown College for a 2 p.m. Landmark Conference game in Thompson Gymnasium.