ANNVILLE, Pa. – Evan Smith had a career-high 18 points to lead a trio of Dutchmen in double figures as the Lebanon Valley men's basketball team was defeated by conference-leading Eastern University 78-66 in a close battle on Wednesday evening inside Sorrentino Gymnasium.
 
The Eagles knocked down a three for the first points of the game before LVC rattled off eight straight to take an 8-3 lead with 13:12 to go in the first half. Ryan Harder and Kyle Tang hit three-pointers to sandwich an Eastern three giving the Dutchmen a 14-8 advantage. Eastern cut the lead down to one before Payton Lewis scored four consecutive points. Collin Jones scored in the paint and then Smith hit a jumper to give LVC their largest lead of the game at 22-13 with 7:26 remaining in the first half. The Eagles were able to tie the game up at 24 with 2:52 on the clock and then scored the final five points of the half.
 
LVC and Eastern battled back-and-forth in the second half trading scores for the first five minutes. Smith knocked down a three to make it a 41-39 game with just over 15 to play. Eastern used an 8-0 run over a span of 90 seconds to take a 10-point lead. The Dutchmen responded and were able to bring the advantage down to four points at 59-55 following a three from Jones. The teams traded scores again ending with Smith knocking down a three with just under five to play to make it 66-62 in favor of the visitors. Eastern made eight free throws while the Dutchmen were unable to score to build a double-digit lead. Lewis ended the drought with a jumper in the paint while being fouled in the final minute to cut the lead to 76-66.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Smith knocked down a trio of threes while scoring in double figures for the fourth consecutive game. He also pulled down seven rebounds and had two steals.
• Jones recorded his fourth consecutive double-double with 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
• Lewis had a big game with 17 points. He has now scored in double figures nine times this season.
• Ryan Harder added seven points and four rebounds while Kyle Tang had another strong game with six assists, three points, three rebounds, and three steals.
• The Dutchmen did a great job distributing the ball with 17 assists on their 25 field goals. 

Up Next
LVC will be off this weekend before starting the second rotation of conference play next Wednesday at Albright College. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Reading.
 
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