Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lycoming erased an 18-point first-half Lebanon Valley lead, but the Dutchmen held off the Warriors' rally to escape Lamade Gym with a 70-67 win in the Commonwealth Conference opener Wednesday night.

The Dutchmen (4-3, 1-0 CC) dealt the Warriors (5-1, 0-1 CC) their first loss of the season behind career-highs from Sean MacIntosh (20 points) and Zach Kebetz (14 points).

Lycoming negated the huge LVC advantage and worked a 24-point swing between the middle parts of both halves, turning LVC's 18-point lead with 9:30 left in the first into a six-point Warrior edge with 11:38 left in the second.

The Dutchmen managed to overcome 18 turnovers, a 54-44 Lycoming rebounding advantage, and 16-of-32 foul shooting by draining eight three-pointers. Will Kelly had a big game for Lyco, draining 19 points to go with 15 rebounds.

LVC led from the start and quickly extended the lead into double digits as the game appeared to get away from Lycoming early. However, after LVC's lead hit 18 points, the Warriors responded with a 12-0 run that started with back-to-back Kelly three-pointers. Lebanon Valley pushed back, but Lycoming limited the damage and went into the half down eight, 38-30.

After Joe Meehan hit a foul shot to open the second half, the Warriors scored the next 13 points to transform a nine-point LVC lead into a four-point Lyco advantage. The Warriors led by as much as six, but a 7-0 LVC run capped by Kebetz' three-pointer brought the lead back, and another 8-0 LVC spurt seemed to shut the door.

However, the Warriors didn't quit, and another Kelly three made it 65-64 LVC with 2:32 to go. MacIntosh's layup gave the visitors some room, but Mike Bradley sank a basket with 1:54 left to make it 67-66.

Both sides missed chances over the next minute and a half, and Lycoming had two chances to take the lead or tie in the final 15 seconds, but Kelly's three-point try and Johnathan Williams' layup went off the mark. Jordan Stewart went to the line and made one with four seconds left to go up three, and after Stewart intentionally sent Eric Anthony to the line, Anthony made just one foul shot.

The game seemed to be over, but a confusing sequence ended with 1.1 seconds put back on the clock. Danny Brooks went to shoot two but made only one, and Lycoming called timeout down by three, but Jerald williams' final bid went left of the mark to let Lebanon Valley escape with the win.

LVC will host Arcadia Saturday in the second game of a CC doubleheader at 3 p.m.