ANNVILLE, Pa. – Evan Smith scored a season-high 13 points to lead the Lebanon Valley Men's Basketball team in scoring as the Dutchmen dropped a tough 60-51 decision to visiting Stevenson University on Saturday afternoon at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
 
The Mustangs scored the first eight points of the game and held LVC scoreless for the first few minutes until Smith knocked down a three off a pass from Ryan Harder. The Dutchmen forced a couple of turnovers on defense but were unable to score on the next two possessions. Stevenson hit a three-pointer to take an 11-3 lead a little over five minutes into the contest. Neither team was able to score again until there was 10:50 remaining in the half as Braden Bohannon hit the front end of two free throws. LVC grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end of the court and Wil Laskowski was fouled to head to the line for two. He sank both shots to cut the lead to 11-6 with 10 minutes left.
 
The deficit was still at five when the Mustangs used a 7-0 run over a span of three possessions to increase the advantage to 20-8 with five minutes on the clock. Evin Timochenko hit the back end of two shots at the line, Smith knocked down another three, and then Timochenko putback a rebound to get the lead back down to six. Laskowski stole the ball right off the inbound pass and was fouled. He sank both free throws to get LVC within four. The Mustangs responded with a layup and a three pointer before the Dutchmen ended the scoring in the half with a pull up jumper by Laskowski and two made free throws by Harder.
 
The Dutchmen began the second half on a 6-3 run over the first three minutes to make it a two-point game at 28-26 following a Jason Penn driving layup in transition. After a couple of missed shots, Timochenko found Penn open on the left wing for a three-pointer that gave LVC the lead for the first time in the game and forced Stevenson to call a timeout. Smith increased the lead to four as he sandwiched a Mustang jumper with a pull up basket and a three-pointer. The Dutchmen traded scores with the Mustangs over the next few possessions and hung onto a 36-32 lead. Stevenson scored the next five points to retake the lead. Harder knocked down a three to put LVC back on top 39-37 with just under 12 minutes to play.
 
The Mustangs were able to tie the score up before Laskowski knocked down a free throw and Smith scored on a beautiful layup from Timochenko to give LVC a 42-39 advantage with just under seven to play. Stevenson countered with a 9-0 run to retake the lead by six points with four minutes on the clock. Penn ended the run with a big three, but Stevenson answered right back at the other end with a three-pointer. The Dutchmen battled valiantly over the final couple of minutes, but the Mustangs were able to hit all of their free throws down the stretch.
 
Inside the Box

• Smith was 5-10 from the field including 3-7 from beyond the arch for his season-high 13 points.
• Penn scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game finishing with 10 points on 3-5 shooting. The first-year hit both three-pointers he attempted and knocked down both of his free throws.
• Laskowski had a season-high nine points including five from the free throw line.
• Harder pulled down eight rebounds and had seven points while Timochenko lead the team in rebounding and assists with 11 and five.
• LVC had a slim 34-33 rebounding advantage.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action next Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip at Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley.

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.