Balanced Attack Powers Valley Forge to Third Conference Victory in Playoff Chase

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – February 4, 2026 – The Patriots continued their impressive late-season surge, defeating Penn College 89-77 at Bardo Gym to extend their winning streak to three games and improve to 3-8 in United East Conference play.

The Patriots (7-14 overall) are playing their best basketball of the season at the most crucial time, keeping their playoff hopes alive with a dominant performance that saw five players reach double figures in scoring.

Valley Forge seized control early, building a 39-27 halftime advantage behind crisp ball movement and balanced scoring. The Patriots shot 42.1% in the first half and never trailed in the contest, leading wire-to-wire and building their largest lead to 21 points in the second half.

William Lawder paced the Patriots with a double-double performance of 15 points and 11 rebounds while adding 2 assists and a steal. The senior forward was efficient inside, shooting 7-of-14 from the field and dominating the glass on both ends.

Dominik McKenney-George continued his stellar play off the bench with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. The versatile guard also contributed 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 24 minutes.

Isaiah Reece and Kyle Jones each added 13 points, with Reece pulling down 1 rebound and dishing 3 assists while Jones shot an efficient 6-of-10 from the field with 4 assists. Denzel Pierre rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points, including three three-pointers.

The bench provided crucial production with Michael Broady scoring 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Deven Dowdie was brilliant in his 15 minutes, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line while dishing out a team-high 5 assists.

Valley Forge's offensive efficiency was on full display, shooting 47.9% from the field (35-73) and 44.4% from three-point range (8-18). The Patriots also dominated in the paint with 42 points and capitalized on turnovers, scoring 20 points off Penn College's 16 miscues.

Penn College was led by Peyton Murphy with 20 points and Octavio Alexander adding 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats shot a respectable 40.0% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc at 19.0% (4-21).

The Patriots' second-half performance was particularly impressive, as they shot 54.3% from the floor while outscoring Penn College 50-50 to maintain their double-digit advantage throughout the final 20 minutes.

The Patriots will need to continue this level of play as they battle for positioning in the crowded United East Conference standings. Every remaining game carries playoff implications as Valley Forge looks to secure a postseason berth.

Game Notes:

• Five Patriots scored in double figures
• Valley Forge shot 47.9% from the field, their second-best performance of the season
• William Lawder recorded his fifth double-double of the season
• The 89 points matched Valley Forge's season high

Box Score Highlights:

• Valley Forge: 89 (35-73 FG, 8-18 3PT, 11-22 FT)
• Penn College: 77 (26-65 FG, 4-21 3PT, 21-29 FT)