ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. - A big second-half run and defensive effort broke open a tight game and let Lebanon Valley run away with its ninth straight win, clinching a Commonwealth Conference playoff berth and the #2 seed with a 74-55 win over Elizabethtown on Tuesday.

The Dutchmen (18-6, 9-4 CC) entered the night needing a win to clinch the #2 seed in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs, and they did just that as conference leader Alvernia beat Albright, 75-70, to clinch the #1 seed. LVC will host Alvernia Saturday on Hot Dog Frank Day in a game that will be meaningless for the two teams, but could have tiebreaking ramifications for Elizabethtown, Albright, and Widener, which are all fighting for the final two spots.

Lebanon Valley will be making its first Commonwealth Conference playoff appearance since 2007-08. The Dutchmen will host the conference's #3 seed (to be determined based on Saturday's results) next Wednesday, Feb. 23 in a doubleheader with the LVC women's team, which won their regular-season title with a win at E-town earlier Tuesday evening.

Joe Meehan scored a game-high 26 points and Anthony Trautman turned in 20 as LVC used an 18-7 run early in the second half to turn a 38-35 E-town lead into a 56-42 advantage. Danny Brooks added 10 points and Grant Becker and Jordan Stewart each grabbed 10 boards.

Keith Fogel led a balanced Elizabethtown scoring output with 14 points. The Blue Jays entered the game second in the league behind LVC in shooting (46%) and free-throw shooting (69.2%), but were held to 34.8% from the floor and just 5-for-14 (35.7%) at the line.

The game featured 12 lead changes in the first half, and the Blue Jays held a slim 33-32 advantage at the break. Out of the locker room, Trautman picked up his third foul and hit the bench, but an undeterred LVC kept scoring behind Meehan and Brooks as the two combined to tie the game before a Zach Kebetz three-pointer took the lead for good 2:48 into the half.

Another Meehan layup and Kebetz three-pointer built the lead to 10 at 48-38, and E-town didn't stop the bleeding until Dan Silver made a layup with 13:46 left, more than six minutes after Fogel sank a bucket to start the half.

Lebanon Valley kept the pressure up and won going away, ending the game with its largest lead at 19.

The Dutchmen will finish the regular season at home, hosting first-place Alvernia on Hot Dog Frank Day and Senior Day. As per tradition, free hot dogs will be served to all fans.