MIDDLETOWN, Pa.— In a tough physical battle against a skilled and experienced opponent, Eastern University Men's Basketball fell, 72-65, to the host Penn State Harrisburg Lions in the Championship game of the PSU Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic.
Mason Lewis led the Eagles with 19 points.
After shooting only three free throws in the first half, the Eagles got to the basket and the line in the second. The Lions (2-0) led 29-25 at the break and built the lead to 11 on an Antwone George 3-pointer midway through the second.
The Eagles (1-1) ground away at the advantage and cut the deficit to three points on a Dujuan Taylor basket through contact with 1:53 on the clock. Taylor missed the foul shot and a foul on the rebound gave the hosts a pair of free throws. The Eagles made only 13-of-24 from the line after intermission. The Lions, on the other hand, made 17-of-24.
Once the lead hit five, the Eagles sped up and another pair of free throws and a dunk put the hosts up nine with forty seconds to play. Though the Eagles applied pressure, they could not close the lead until Justin Exeukwu hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.
Taylor finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Ezeukwu and fellow sophomore
Kai Gatson also scored in double-figures for the Eagles. After making only 1-of-10 from behind the arc in the first half, the Eagles converted five shots from distance in the second half.
"This was good experience for us," Head Coach
Dan Pruessner said after the game. "Our team has a lot of younger guys, and guys in new roles. To be in it late against a team with guys who have played in the NCAA Tournament is an important step. We did not do everything right, but the lessons we will learn from this will help us going forward."
The Eagles are back in action at Rowan on Wednesday.
