LANGHORNE, Pa. – Evin Timochenko had career-highs of 33 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Lebanon Valley Men's Basketball Team to a 85-82 victory at Cairn University on Saturday in the season opener for both teams inside the Mason Activity Center in Langhorne.
 
The Dutchmen got out to a great start as Kyle Tang found Ryan Harder open for a layup right off the tip. A steal by Tyson Hofsass and jumper by Timochenko in the paint gave LVC a quick 4-0 lead. The lead grew to 6-0 as Hofsass found Tang for a layup. Cairn finally got on the board with a three-pointer to cut the lead in half. Evan Smith hit a three and Harder knocked down a jumper to give the Dutchmen an 11-3 advantage forcing the Highlanders to call the first timeout of the game.
 
The lead grew to 11 following a Harder three. LVC maintained the 11-point lead until Cairn used a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 22-16 with 10:47 o the clock. The Highlanders were able to get the advantage down to four before a 9-0 run gave the Dutchmen a 31-18 advantage. Harder started the run with a three and Timochenko scored the next six points. The lead extended to 17 with six minutes to play as Tyler Kerlin putback a rebound on the offensive glass. The teams traded scores over the next five minutes as Cairn never got closer than 13 points. Harder ended the scoring for the half with a jumper to give the Dutchmen a 46-28 lead.
 
The Highlanders scored first in the second half and Timochenko responded on the other end with a tip-in of his own shot. Cairn scored the next eight points to get within 10 points at 48-38. Timochenko scored on three consecutive possessions to get the Dutchmen lead back up to 14 at 54-40. Cairn cut the lead down to eight before Hofsass made a pair of free throws and Timochenko scored down low.
 
Cairn used a pair of threes and a few layups to get the lead down to four at 64-60 with 10 minutes to go in the period. The Highlanders continued the run and after two made free throws with just under seven to play the lead was at one point. LVC responded with a 5-0 run as Timochenko knocked down a jumper in the paint and then Harder hit a three. Timochenko and Tang scored on back-to-back possessions to increase the lead to 79-69 with 2:41 on the clock. Cairn made another late run and got the deficit down to three with 14 seconds left. Harder was fouled with eight seconds left and made both his free throws. A quick three made it a one-possession game with two seconds left. Harder was fouled and made the backend of his two shots. A last second three-point attempt was off the mark.
 
Inside the Box

• Timochenko was 16-23 from the field with one free throw for his career-high 33 points. He grabbed five offensive rebounds and 14 defensive rebounds.
• Harder hit a trio of three-pointers and finished with 22 points and five rebounds.
• Smith was the third Dutchman in double figures with 10 points.
• Tang dished out nine assists and scored six points while Hofsass had six points, three assists, and two steals.
• The Dutchmen shot 54.2-percent from the field and had 50 points in the paint.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action on Wednesday with a short trip to Lancaster to take on Lancaster Bible College. Tip-off from the Horst Athletic Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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