Denzel Pierre Drains Game-Winner with 2 Seconds Left to Cap Furious Second-Half Rally

PHOENIXVILLE, PA – January 29, 2026 – Denzel Pierre was ice in his veins on Wednesday night, burying a three-pointer with just two seconds remaining to lift the Patriots to a thrilling 61-58 comeback victory over Penn State-Lehigh Valley.

Down 26-19 at halftime and trailing for most of the contest, the Patriots stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Nittany Lions 42-32 to improve to 5-14 overall and 2-8 in United East Conference play.

Pierre, who finished with a game-high 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting, saved his best for last. After Penn State-Lehigh Valley's CamRon Black tied the game at 58-58 with a three-pointer at the 49-second mark, Valley Forge worked the clock down before finding Pierre for the game-winning shot with the game on the line.

The victory was fueled by a dominant second-half performance that saw Valley Forge shoot an impressive 61.54% from the field. Aiden Littleton continued his breakout campaign with 13 points off the bench, while Kyle Jones added 10 points and Isaiah Reece contributed 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Penn State-Lehigh Valley (0-4) was led by Kyle John with 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Emmanuel Kenyi added 14 points. Despite the loss, the Nittany Lions shot an efficient 48.9% from the field but couldn't answer Pierre's late heroics.

Game Notes:

• Valley Forge shot 100% (9-9) from the free-throw line in the second half
• The Patriots outscored Penn State-Lehigh Valley 36-28 in points in the paint
• Attendance: 88

Box Score Highlights:

• Valley Forge: 61 (23-52 FG, 2-19 3PT, 13-15 FT)
• Penn State-Lehigh Valley: 58 (22-45 FG, 6-13 3PT, 8-11 FT)