CHESTER, Pa. - Lebanon Valley College never got its offense firing as it fell, 58-44, at Widener University in men's basketball action Wednesday night.
With the loss, the Dutchmen (8-14, 2-5 CC) fell into a tie for fifth place in the Commonwealth Conference with Elizabethtown, a 79-75 upset winner over conference leader Albright Wednesday night. Both LVC and E-town, who meet Saturday, are two games back of three teams tied for second place at 4-3: Widener, Messiah, and Albright. All six teams have three games left to play.
James Shinn came off the bench to lead LVC with nine points, while Grant Becker had eight points and six rebounds. Lebanon Valley was forced to play without starter Eric Humphrey and key reserve Matt Staub due to illness. Matt Sosna led all scorers with 11 points.
Lebanon Valley turned the ball over 21 times while shooting 37.8 percent from the floor. The game marked LVC's lowest offensive output since a 44-34 win against Susquehanna on Jan. 15, 2005.
After going back and forth in the opening minutes, Widener took control of the game with an 11-1 run over the middle of the first half to take a 24-14 lead with 5:51 to go. A Dan Dunkelberger jumper cut the lead to eight, but the Pride again went on the attack and reeled off nine straight points, capped by Tim Vanderslice's three-pointer, to take a 35-18 lead. Dustin Kerns' short-range jumper with two ticks left made it 35-20, Widener, at the half.
The Dutchmen suffered a miserable start to the second half, not scoring until Becker's layup 5:29 into the half. By then, Widener had maintained a 17-point lead.
LVC slowly chipped away at the lead, and an 8-0 run late in the half capped off by Zach Hoover's three-ball put LVC within striking distance at 48-40 with 5:58 to go.
The Pride answered with a 7-0 run of their own, however, to shut Lebanon Valley out of the game for good. The Dutchmen managed just a pair of foul shots over the final 5:58 of the game.
Lebanon Valley returns home Saturday to host Elizabethtown at 3 p.m. on Hot Dog Frank Day. In keeping with tradition, all fans will receive free hot dogs during the women's/men's doubleheader in honor of the memory of long-time LVC support "Hot Dog" Frank Aftosmes.
