Box Score
ANNVILLE, Pa. - Dustin Kerns hit the go-ahead layup with 2.9 seconds left in the game and sophomore Eric Humphrey caused a critical turnover to save the game as Lebanon Valley College survived Messiah College, 68-65, Tuesday night to stay in the Commonwealth Conference playoff hunt.
With the win, the Dutchmen (10-14, 4-5 CC) moved into a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot with the Falcons (15-9, 4-5 CC).
A complex set of playoff scenarios are in front of the Dutchmen. If they beat Lycoming, the regular-season champion, on Saturday, LVC would have to hope for Messiah to lose to Albright to get in. If Messiah were to win, it would forge a three-way tie at 5-5 for third between LVC, Messiah, and Albright, and possibly a four-way tie for second if Widener were to lose to Elizabethtown. Messiah holds any tiebreak in that situation.
Kyle Enoch ended with a game-high 19 points, while Peter Ruth and Dan Hodge each tallied 12. Andy Hawk scored 16 for Messiah.
The final dramatic moments unfolded like a storybook for the Dutchmen. Messiah led the entire second half until Enoch's layup tied the game at 63 with 1:56 left in the game, John Boyd's 10-foot jumper put the Falcons back up by two 36 seconds later. Enoch missed a three-pointer, and Messiah's Jason Miller had his layup try blocked by Humphrey with 32 seconds left.
LVC had the final shot, but Kyle Snyder sent Kerns to the line with a chance to tie the game. Kerns made his first to make it 65-64, but his second try clanked off the back iron and Hawk came down with the board. Enoch was forced to foul, but LVC only had seven team fouls, sending John Boyd to the line for a one-and-one situation.
With Dutchman fans on their feet, Boyd missed the front end and Hodge came away with the rebound. He immediately outletted to Kerns at midcourt, and Kerns layed out for a left-handed runner to give LVC the lead, 66-65.
Messiah still had a chance with 2.9 seconds left, but Darryl Brown's inbound was swatted by Humphrey, and the ball glanced off Brown's shoulder and out of bounds to give LVC the ball back.
James Shinn made both of his foul shots to seal the game, and Messiah's last-second desperation shot went wide.
Both teams shot well from the floor, with LVC making 49 percent and Messiah 52.2 percent of their shots. LVC held down its turnovers, giving away only 12 to Messiah's 20.
LVC now heads to Williamsport for a crucial regular-season finale at Lycoming Saturday at 3 p.m.
