Box Score Men's Basketball
Lebanon Valley 72, Elizabethtown 65

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley got an early leg up in Commonwealth Conference play, holding off Elizabethtown in a gritty 72-65 win to open league play.

The Dutchmen (2-1, 1-0 CC) received another superb effort from Danny Brooks, who had 20 points and 13 rebounds, as well as a career-high 19 points from Matt O'Brien as they held the lead for the entire second half despite several runs by the Blue Jays (0-3, 0-1 CC).

Elizabethtown was led by Lee Eckert's first career double-double (14 pts, 10 rbs) and 13 points off the bench by Joe Bodnar. The Jays scored more than half their points (35) off the bench.

The Dutchmen took the lead for good with a huge 19-6 run in the middle of the first half that included consecutive buckets by Joey Giangiobbe, O'Brien, and Kevin Agnew to go up 31-19. E-town responded before the half to cut it to 37-32, then made it a one-basket game on Andrew Mantz's layup to start the second.

The two teams dueled it out from there, with LVC threatening to pull away several times before the Jays reeled them back to within three after a Bodnar three-pointer with 8:39 to go. LVC took control at the line, however, with back-to-back pairs by O'Brien and Agnew going with a layup and a three-point play by Brooks to go 67-59. E-town pulled with four in the final 24 seconds, but Agnew sealed it with two free throws.

Giangiobbe scored 10 with five rebounds before fouling out with 6:32 left; David Corbin was a spark off the bench in his absence, recording a block, steal, assist, and two offensive rebounds in key situations to keep the ball in LVC's hands. Agnew wound up with 13 points and six assists.

LVC shot 45.6% for the game, holding the Blue Jays to 39.3%. LVC had a slight edge in rebounding, 41-37.

The Dutchmen will visit Moravian on Sunday.