Box Score

READING, Pa. - Lebanon Valley nearly erased a 19-point second-half deficit to give themselves a chance to win in the final minute, but the Dutchmen came up short in a 72-70 thriller at Albright College Saturday.

The Dutchmen (6-7, 0-2 CC) dropped their second straight Commonwealth Conference game to start the season. The Lions improved to 10-5 and 1-1 in conference play with Phil Hall's 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Dan Dunkelberger had an impressive double-double with 17 points and 12 boards, including eight big points during LVC's late surge. Joe Meehan scored 12 while dishing out five assists. Dustin Kerns nearly grabbed a double-double of his own with 10 points and eight rebounds.

LVC took care of the ball and committed just 10 turnovers, but the Dutchmen shot just 38 percent from the floor while Albright sank 45.6 percent of their buckets. The Lions rode the long ball, draining seven of 24 shots from the outside.

Albright led wire-to-wire and appeared to be running away with the game in the second half. Leading 39-34 at the half, Albright roared out of the gate in the second with an 11-0 start, holding LVC scoreless for the first 4:31 of the half as they built up a 16-point lead.

The lead stayed in the double-digits until Dunkelberger keyed a 12-2 run that included eight points by the junior. Meehan then made a jumper with 47 seconds left to pull within three, and after Zac Shaeffer missed his first foul shot, Kerns grabbed the rebound. However, the Dutchmen missed a pair of shots, but got the ball back on Hall's turnover with 18 seconds left.

Out of a timeout, the Dutchmen couldn't find a shot until Meehan sank a layup with three tickets remaining, and they weren't able to get the ball back in time for a potential game-winning shot.

LVC will host Lycoming Wednesday night.