Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Senior Darren Pugh (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) posted 24 points and 12 rebounds, both game-highs, to lead Lebanon Valley to an 88-66 Commonwealth Conference win over Albright College Wednesday evening in Lynch Gymnasium.

With the win, Lebanon Valley (10-12, 5-6 CC) pulled to within one game of Juniata College for the fourth and final spot in the upcoming Commonwealth playoffs. The victory also avenged a 67-64 LVC loss at Albright earlier this season.

The Flying Dutchmen's 88 points marked the team's highest scoring output since its 93-62 over Susquehanna in LVC's Commonwealth opener on Dec. 4.

Pugh, who recorded his Commonwealth-leading 13th double-double of the season, shot 7-for-9 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line.

Junior guard Terron Buchanon scored a team-high 19 points for Albright (4-15, 3-7 CC).

Pugh was one of four Flying Dutchmen to reach double figures in scoring. Freshman forward Dave Kasyan (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) shot 5-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 for three-point range for a career-high 15 points while junior guard Evan Harlor (Danville, Pa./Danville) added 12 points. Sophomore guard J.D. Byers (Westminster, Md./Westminster) chipped in with 10 points and a game-high seven assists.

Buchanon nailed his first four shots, including a pair of three-pointers, and scored 10 of Albright's first 12 points as the Lions raced to a 12-7 lead in the game's opening 3:18. But LVC answered with a 12-0 run, capped by a long jumper by Kasyan, putting the Valley up 19-12.

Albright tied the game twice midway through the half but failed re-take the lead during the remainder of the game. The Lions tied it up at 26 with 7:51 to go before the Valley scored 13 unanswered points in a 2:04 span. Lebanon Valley took a 45-39 lead into the locker room with Buchanon leading all scorers with 14 points.

The Lions scored the first five points of the second half to cut the gap to five (47-42). However, LVC put together a 9-2 run, giving the Valley an 14-point (58-44) advantage. The Dutchmen led by at least 11 the rest of the way.

Lebanon Valley returns to Commonwealth play on Saturday when it visits Elizabethtown College in the first game of a men's and women's doubleheader at 2 p.m.

[Photo - Freshman forward Dave Kasyan, who scored a career-high 15 points against Albright on Wednesday]

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