EXPRESS FALL TO CONFERENCE LEADING NITTANY LIONS

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Penn. St. Harrisburg Nittany Lions had four different players score in double-figured en route to a 69-66 victory over the Wells College Express in North Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Harrisburg, Pa. The loss drops the Express to 4-10 (1-3 NEAC), while the Nittany Lions improve to 11-3 and maintain first in the NEAC with a 4-0 record.

The Express finished with three different players in double-figures led by Terry Harrison (Brooklyn, N.Y.) who finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Dave Foltz (Auburn, N.Y.) added 14 points and Andre Sawyers (Bronx, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points.

Amani Glenn led the Nittany Lions with 19 points. Steve Jones added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Jordan Gatchell finished with 12 points.

Harrisburg raced out to a quick 6-0 lead and would extend their lead to nine (14-5) five minutes into the first half. The Express would fight their way back to within five on a Mike DiCampli (Geneva, N.Y.) three and a lay-up from Darnell McDuffy (Rochester, N.Y.), but the Nittany Lions continued to hit open shots, including two straight 3-pointers to extend their lead to 12 (26-14) mid-way through.

The Nittany Lions continued to hold their lead late in the first half until a lay-up by Sawyers and a made free-throw from Foltz trimmed the Harrisburg lead to six (36-30) at the half.

The two teams traded shots to open the second half and it would seem each time the Express gained the momentum the Nittany Lions would find an answer. Down by nine, the Express battled back to within five on two free-throws from Sawyers and a lay-up by Harrison, but just as quickly as the Express cut into the lead Harrisburg built another. This time a three from Gatchell sparked a run of five straight points as Harrisburg again extended their lead to ten (55-45).

The Express would cut the lead to six (61-55) with five minutes to play and would trail by as little as four (68-64) with 1:09 left.  A free-throw put the Nittany Lions up 69-64 with 37-seconds to play leaving the Express one final breadth. EJ Taylor (Tampa Bay, Fla.) finished a lay-up to trim the lead to 69-66 with 12-seconds remaining and a forced turnover by Wells with seven seconds remaining gave them one last chance but time would run out leaving the Express with their six straight loss.

Wells finished 39.2 percent from floor but would finish just 4-15 from behind the arc, while shooting 61.1 percent (22-36) from the foul line. The Express also held the edge on the glass 42-36.

The Nittany Lions finished 38.6 percent from the line, including 7-23 from the behind the arc.

Wells will look to bounce back tomorrow against NEAC opponent Gallaudett University at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C.