HOBOKEN, N.J. ­­– Luis Garcia led the Lebanon Valley College men's basketball team with 18 points in its Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom opener, as the program dropped a 70-65 contest against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Canavan Arena. The Flying Dutchmen battled until the final minute, as three players scored in double figures during their first game as a member of the conference. 

The Dutchmen and the Ducks were both aggressive offensively early in the first half, exchanging baskets until the score was even at 9-9 just 2:39 into the game. Ryan Harder helped get LVC rolling, scoring each of the program's first six points on a trio of jumpers. Evan Smith also contributed during this stretch, knocking down a three-pointer. Lebanon Valley then delivered four straight points, taking a 13-9 lead with 15:24 remaining in the first. The squad went ahead on jumpers by Luis Garcia and Harder. Stevens followed this with an 8-4 stretch, tying the game at 17-17 with 10:33 to go. 

The Ducks then went on a 12-2 run, taking a 29-19 advantage with 8:44 remaining in the first half. The Dutchmen responded with a 4-2 stretch, advancing the score to 31-23 with 5:55 left after a successful jumper by Harder and a couple of free throws by Evin Timochenko. Stevens followed this by concluding the first half on a 12-5 run, taking a 43-28 lead into halftime. During this span, Garcia made a jumper and knocked down a three for LVC.

Lebanon Valley generated some offensive opportunities early in the second half, delivering a 4-2 stretch in the first 1:30 on a pair of free throws by Wil Laskowski and a jumper by Garcia. Stevens responded with an 8-2 run, advancing the score to 53-34 with 13:56 to play. The Dutchmen answered back with seven consecutive points, trimming their deficit to 53-41 with 11:20 left on a three-pointer by Garcia and a pair of jumpers by Tang. 

After a three by the Ducks, the Flying Dutchmen posted a 9-0 run to make it a 56-50 game with 7:55 to go in the second stanza. The program got within six points on a jumper and a three by Braden Bohannon, along with converted jump shots by Harder and Garcia. The teams then went back and forth until Stevens led 65-56 with 3:40 remaining. LVC continued to battle as the half progressed, narrowing its deficit to 65-63 with just over a minute on the clock. Lebanon Valley came within two points after a jumper and another three-pointer by Bohannon, as well as a layup by Harder in the paint. Stevens answered with a layup, but the Dutchmen countered with a pair of free throws by Jevon Griffin. The Ducks went on to close out the game by a score of 70-65.  

Inside the Box Score

• Garcia led the Dutchmen with 18 points while tallying three rebounds, four assists and a steal. 
• Harder scored 16 points with three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Bohannon recorded 12 points with a pair of steals and a team-high five rebounds. This marks the junior guard's second straight game scoring in double figures. 
• Tang led Lebanon Valley with five assists and three steals. The sophomore guard also scored four points in the contest. 
• Smith logged five points with a steal. 
• LVC scored 21 points off turnovers. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will return to the court at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, as the squad will host Delaware Valley University at Sorrentino Gymnasium. 

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