Box Score
CHESTER, Pa. - Lebanon Valley staved off a big Widener rally in the second half to hold on and win, 70-62, in Commonwealth Conference play Sunday.
The win by the Dutchmen (9-12, 5-5 CC) was their third straight, and combined with Elizabethtown's win over CC leader Albright and Lycoming's victory against Arcadia, it tightened up the conference standings with two weeks to go in the regular season; just two games now separate sixth-place LVC from first-place Lycoming.
LVC is a half game behind Messiah and Alvernia for fourth place, pending the outcome of those two teams' make-up game on Monday.
Lebanon Valley was led by
Dan Dunkelberger's second straight double-double as the senior turned in a 17-point, 15-rebound performance.
Joe Meehan added 15 points, five assists, and four steals, including a critical pick that led to a breakaway jam with 23 seconds remaining to stop a Widener run.
Anthony Trautman added 11 off the bench and
Grant Becker had 10 points and six boards in just under 40 minutes of play.
Jack Brennan paced Widener with 14 points and eight boards, and Jarrell Nelson hit for 11.
The Dutchmen shot a blistering 52.9 percent in the first half as they raced out to a 24-point lead while Widener shot just 8-for-30 (26.7%). But it was the reverse in the second half as LVC went ice-cold from the floor and Widener got within striking distance late in the period.
A big Widener run cut LVC's 22-point halftime lead to just five with 1:03 left as LVC suffered a nearly eight-minute field goal drought after Meehan's three-pointer with 8:19 to go.
Thankfully, foul shooting and late defense bailed out LVC as
Jordan Stewart made two in the final minute before Meehan picked Brennan's pocket and punctuated the win with a jam in the closing seconds.
LVC will visit Messiah on Wednesday night.