ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley men's basketball team used a big second half to defeat visiting Neumann University 72-66 on Saturday afternoon at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
 
The Dutchmen earned their first win of the season by outscoring the Knights 42-37 in the second half. LVC used seven three-pointers and a season-high 21 made free throws to post a home win over Neumann for the second consecutive season. The Knights got off to a strong start with a 7-0 run over the first three minutes to force LVC to use their first timeout of the game. Evan Smith knocked down a three out of the timeout to end the scoring drought to begin the game. The Knights were able to build a 16-9 lead before Ryan Harder hit a transition three with 13:25 on the clock. Jevon Griffin knocked down a trey and then Kyle Tang had back-to-back buckets to cut the lead down to one at 18-17 midway through the half. Neumann countered with a 6-0 run over the next minute. Wil Laskowski hit a three and then Tang hit the front end of two free throws to bring the lead back down to three. The teams traded scores until a 7-0 run gave LVC their first lead of the game at 27-26 with 3:20 left. Laskowski had a steal and layup to bring the Dutchmen within one and then Karson Pavlik gave the Dutchmen the lead with a jumper. Harder had another transition three to make it 30-26. The Knights scored the final points of the half with a three-pointer as LVC went into the locker room with a one-point lead.
 
Harder opened the scoring in the second half with a layup and then Luis Garcia knocked down a pair of free throws. The Knights got two buckets downlow to cut it to one. After trading buckets Neumann tied the game at 36 with a three-point play. The game was tied at 38 when LVC used a 6-0 run over a minute span to take the lead for good. Garcia and Smith hit a pair of free throws each and then Smith scored on a fastbreak. The Knights were able to get the lead down to two but each time LVC responded and kept a two-possession advantage. Smith hit a pair of free throws and knocked down a three to make it 49-42 with 10:22 left. Pavlik hit a big three with 8:13 left to make it a five-point game and Garcia scored the next four points to give the Dutchmen a 56-47 advantage. Harder made it a 10-point lead with a pair of free throws with 3:21 on the clock. The Knights were able to get back within two with 15 seconds left but Smith and Harder closed out the game with a pair of free throws each.
 
Inside the Box

• Harder had a career-high 22 points and added five rebounds. He was 7-16 from the field and 6-8 at the line.
• Smith finished with 14 points and knocked down two threes and six of seven free throws.
• Garcia was the third scorer in double figures with 12. He also had three assists and a steal.
• Laskowski had seven points and five rebounds while Pavlik added five points and a team-high nine rebounds.
• Tang had another strong all-around game with seven points, three assists, two rebounds, and a steal.
• LVC shot 44 percent from the field and 50 percent on threes. They were 70 percent at the line making 21 of 30 attempts.
• The Dutchmen defeated Neumann for the second consecutive year after defeating the Knights 67-63 last year in the Rinso Marquette Championship.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in Sorrentino Gymnasium next Saturday as they host Gwynedd Mercy University for a 2 p.m. tip-off.

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