PHOENIXVILLE, PA- No better way to say goodbye to four seniors than some overtime game thriller action.  The men's basketball team trailed the Central Penn College Knights for nearly the entire regular 40-minutes, but refusing to let their seniors down, the men pushed the game into overtime and clung to their lead to defeat the Knights by a final score of 113-112!

Two minutes into the game the Patriots found themselves fighting a double-digit deficit, 0-10.  The Knight's lead lingered around the 10-point mark throughout the first period but with 13-seconds left before the half, the Patriots were able to get within three, 41-44, but time ran out before they could tie it up.

As second period got underway, the men saw their hopes of a comeback slip away as the Knight's pushed their advantage back into the teens, 59-47.  Ten minutes to go the Patriots had to race against the clock to get a run on offense.  It seemed nothing would work, until just under two minutes, back-to-back three's from Jean LeBlanc and Demitrius Muse finally put the men within two, 95-97.  The Knights' answered back with a layup to pull away by four, 95-99.  Lance Harris created an open space 16-seconds later to make good on a jumper and get his team back within two.  Twenty-seven seconds neither team had managed to score and the Patriots trailed 97-99.  Kevin Mack seized an opportunity to force a turnover and scored on a breakaway layup to tie the game 99-99!  With the ball back in Knight's possession, the Patriots added the pressure and forced a poor shot to grab the defensive board.  By the time the Patriots made it to their end of the court, the buzzer rang sending the teams into overtime.

Five minutes glowed from the board, and it would be the Knight's to record the first bucket in overtime.  It would be the only lead the Patriots would allow, as a shot from beyond the arc put the Patriots up by one, 102-101.  Slowly the Patriots managed to stay ahead of the Knights.  With just under one minute to go the men held a three-point lead, 113-110.  00:46 on the clock and the Knights raised everyone's blood pressure by sinking a shot and stepped up right behind the Patriots, 113-112.  Then the fouls started.  Each team was presented with multiple opportunities to raise their points off free-throws but failed to capitalize. One second left to go, the Knights stood at the charity stripe, one shot to tie, two to win.  As the Patriots stood and waited, they watched both shots bounce off the rim and grabbed the ball to earn the win!

Before the start of the game the Department of Athletics recognized four senior players.  Lance Harris was recognized for his four years of dedication to the team, along with three year player Isaiah Carson, Nick Kline and first year Patriot player Tony Malone.

Senior Lance Harris recorded 29 points with five steals and seven assists.  Kevin Mack notched 28 points for the team with nine rebounds and four steals.  Jean LeBlanc and Demitrius Muse tallied 19 points apiece. 

The Patriots play one more regular season game, Thursday, February 27.  The men host Berkeley College (NJ) at 7pm!

Go Patriots!