Men's Basketball
Lebanon Valley 73, Denison 65
at the Land of Magic Classic

Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Joe Meehan's career-high 33 points - including 21 in the second half - led Lebanon Valley to their second win in as many days as they topped Denison, 73-65, in the Land of Magic Classic at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Dutchmen (8-4) will head back north with a pair of wins after edging Babson on Tuesday. Denison (4-7) slumped to their sixth straight loss.

Meehan shot 10-for-16 from the floor and 11-for-14 at the line, and added six assists as turned in his first career 30-point game. Anthony Trautman added 15 points and eight boards, and Jordan Stewart scored seven points with nine rebounds while Danny Brooks had eight points and seven boards. Dimonde Hale led the Big Red with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

LVC held Denison to 34.4% shooting - including 8-for-27 in the second half - to overcome 17 turnovers and 10 Denison steals.

The Big Red had rallied back from an early deficit after Lebanon Valley hit a hot start to take a 14-0 lead. Denison quickly rebounded, however, and took the lead midway through the first half after consecutive baskets by Alex Longi. LVC responded with a 9-2 run capped by a Meehan three-pointer, eventually taking a 41-37 lead into the break.

LVC never relinquished the lead in the second half despite Denison keeping it close in the opening minutes, eventually pulling away with a Meehan three-point play at the 7:05 mark to take an eight-point lead. Foul shooting and a Jim Leffew three-pointer brought the Big Red back within three of the lead three minutes later, but four straight foul shots and another three-point play by Meehan put LVC back up five with 1:49 to play.

Grant Becker hit two more free throws to make it 69-62 with 1:13 to go before Casey Stockton's three-pointer cut the lead to four, but Meehan's jumper followed by two final foul shots iced the game in the final minute as the Big Red missed three outside shots.

LVC will get back to Commonwealth Conference play Jan. 8 at Arcadia.