Stevenson 78, Lebanon Valley 69
 
LVC Starters
Baker, Tucker, L. Garcia, Jones, Deihm
 
Stevenson Starters
Joseph, Jones, Williams, Devine, Wesley
 
How It Happened
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Stevenson pulled away late to edge Lebanon Valley 78-69 in each team's regular-season finale on Friday night in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Men's Basketball action. The Flying Dutchmen ended their regular season with an 8-2 overall record and a 7-2 mark in conference play, while the Mustangs improved to 4-6, 4-6 MACC.
 
Despite this evening's results, LVC still finishes the regular season as the No. 1 overall seed in the conference and will host No. 2 Albright next Thursday in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game. The time for the game is expected to be announced early next week.
 
Before tonight's game, LVC honored Justin Baker, as well as four cheerleaders in Alexandra Detweiler, Mia Kaminsky, Sierra Sheriff, and Heather Schroll on Senior Night.
 
With 6:50 remaining in regulation in a tight contest, Stevenson's Jalin Jordan hit a 3-pointer to put the Mustangs ahead 61-56. After the Dutchmen burned a timeout, Luis Garcia answered with a trey of his own at 6:18, bringing LVC back to within two at 61-59. Zach Tucker then tied the game at 61-61 with 5:34 to go, and Baker then hit a free throw, giving LVC a 62-61 advantage with 5:05 left.
 
Later, with the score even at 69-69, Norman Hughes hit a pair of free throws at 1:28, and after an LVC turnover, Hughes knocked down the biggest shot of the game, a 3-pointer from Bo Wesley, that gave Stevenson a 74-69 lead with 39 seconds to go. The Dutchmen were unable to answer on their ensuing possession, and Evan Joseph went a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final 21 seconds, securing the Mustangs' 78-69 win, and Stevenson scored the game's final 10 points in the win.
 
In the early going, LVC jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead capped by Collin Jones' layup with 13:34 left in the opening half. Stevenson then came to within three of the Dutchmen at 14-11 with 10:36 left, but a layup from Baker, followed by Jeremy Deihm's good jumper at 8:25, extended the home team's lead to seven at 18-11. The Mustangs answered with a big 16-4 spurt and took a five-point lead at 27-22 with 3:49 left. Tucker stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws and after Jones' layup made it a one-point game, Jaylen Reichner drilled a 3-pointer from Tucker to put the Dutchmen back on top at 29-27 with 2:35 left. In the final two minutes, back-and-forth action took place and Jones' layup with 19 ticks left gave LVC a 34-33 advantage heading into halftime.
 
Inside the Numbers
 - Collin Jones poured in a game-high 21 points and added 11 rebounds for the double-double.
 - Zach Tucker finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
 - Justin Baker provided 11 points and two rebounds.
 - Luis Garcia had nine points and four assists.
 - McKale Williams led Stevenson with 15 points and eight rebounds.
 - Evan Joseph added 14 points (10-for-10 from the charity stripe) and five assists.
 - The Mustangs led in points off turnovers (20-11) and bench points (33-8), but the Dutchmen held the edge in points in the paint at 34-32.
 
Championship Thursday!
LVC is set to host Albright in the 2021 MAC Commonwealth Men's Basketball Championship Game, a rematch of the memorable 2018 matchup that saw the Dutchmen win the conference off a last-second shot from Ricky Bugg. Be on the lookout next week for game time and a preview of Thursday's action.
 
Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC athletics.