Lions fade late in second half in loss to Lehigh Valley

In a thrilling basketball matchup between Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Hazleton on January 30, 2024, Penn State Lehigh Valley emerged victorious with a final score of 83-77. The game was closely contested, with both teams displaying impressive performances. 

The game started off with a competitive first half, with Penn State Hazleton holding a narrow lead of 45-43. However, Penn State Lehigh Valley made a strong comeback in the second half, outscoring their opponents 40-32. This comeback ultimately secured their victory. Hazleton faded late in the action, allowing a 13-5 scoring run by the visitors with less than 10 minutes to play and giving Lehigh Valley their first double-digit lead of the game. Hazleton battled back to get within four points with less than a minute to play, but the Lions couldn't convert enough shots from the field to complete the comeback. 

Arnel Lewis and Nas Scott were the standout players for Penn State Lehigh Valley. Lewis contributed 22 points, shooting 8-19 from the field, including 2-9 from beyond the arc. Scott also had an impressive performance, scoring 23 points on 9-19 shooting, with 3 three-pointers.

For Penn State Hazleton, Connor Rushing (Newtown, Pa.) displayed an exceptional performance. He led his team in scoring with 37 points, shooting an impressive 12-18 from the field. Rushing also made an impact on the boards, grabbing 9 rebounds.

Penn State Lehigh Valley shot at an impressive 47.7% from the field, while Penn State Hazleton had a field goal percentage of 39.1%. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with Penn State Lehigh Valley shooting 30% and Penn State Hazleton shooting 18.2% from three-point range.

Free throw shooting played a crucial role in the game, with Penn State Hazleton having a remarkable 82.1% free throw percentage, compared to Penn State Lehigh Valley's 54.2%. This efficiency from the free throw line helped keep Penn State Hazleton in the game.

Next up is a crucial game for the Nittany Lions as the travel to Penn State Scranton on Saturday, February 3 for a 3:00 p.m. conference game.