Lightning Fall in Season Opener

Box Score

Williamsport, PA - In the opening round of the Dutch Burch Tip-off Tournament hosted by Lycoming College the Lightning were pitted against Misericordia College. In the season opener for both schools the Lightning fell 63-60 to the Cougars.

Newcomer Niv Solomon netted 12 points while returnees Chaun Miller and Olando Minott tallied 12 and 11 points respectively. Solomon and Minott also led the team in rebounding with eight and six respectively.

Early in the game with the score tied at six, the Lightning went on a 12-0 run to jump out to an 18-6 lead with 11:30 to play in the first half. It would turn out to be the largest lead of the night by either team. Back to back three-pointers by the Cougars cut the lead in half. A three-pointer by Andrew Utate brought the advantage back up to nine. However, the Cougars went on a 13-3 spurt to take a 25-24 lead, their first of the night, with 4:43 to play in the half. The game went back and forth the remainder of the half with the Cougars taking a 33-32 lead into the locker room.

With eight minutes to play, a Solomon fast break lay-up gave the Lightning a 51-46 lead their largest of the second half. The Cougars would not go away and went on a 7-0 run over the next three plus minutes to take a two point lead that they would not surrender. Solomon was able to knot the score at 53 after hitting a pair of free throws with 4:24 to play. However, Misericordia would go on a 9-1 run to take a 62-54 lead with 1:46 to play. The Lightning outscored the Cougars 6-1 the rest of the way but just ran out of time.

The Cougars had four players in double figures led by Griffin Sponaugle with 15.

In the other opening round game Lycoming defeated Penn State Schuykill 97-75.

Saturday Lehman will take on Penn State Schuykill in the consolation game at 1:00 PM in Lamade Gym in Williamsport, PA.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Chaun Miller: F; 6' 4"; Senior

#11 Olando Minott: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#31 Andrew Utate: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#53 Niv Solomon: C; 6' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#15 Chaun Miller
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

#11 Olando Minott
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#31 Andrew Utate
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#53 Niv Solomon
: 6' 8"; Freshman
: C