WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team fought hard but ultimately lost on the road, 73-72 in overtime, to Lycoming Wednesday evening to open Landmark Conference play.
Neco Campbell had a career-high 16 points to go with eight rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. Jaiden Aze contributed 14 points and eight boards, while Ty Kocak had 14 points, two rebounds, and four assists.
Each team had a six-point lead in the first half, but the Eagles managed to take a four-point lead into the locker room, with two William Littles Jr. foul shots being the final points of the half.
The Eagles' offense took off in the second half, and their defense tightened up. They held the Warriors to nine points in the opening 10 minutes of the final half. A Campbell jumper off a Tre Yawn assist made it 52-37.
From there, the Warriors responded with a 20-7 surge, putting them within two with just under three to play.
The teams traded misses before Aze got the ball on the left wing, drove middle, and finished over the top of his defender to make it 61-57. The Warriors tipped in a missed layup with 26 seconds to play to get within two and eventually fouled. Ayden Hurley split foul shots, but on the other end, the hosts found an open guy on the right wing who drilled a three to tie the game at 62 with 10 seconds to go.
Mason Hardy drove to the rim and tried to get a layup off but slipped, and the ball went off a Lycoming player. Juniata drew a lob at the rim, but it was batted away, and the game went to OT.
Hurley dove on a loose ball and was fouled to start OT, and with Lycoming in the bonus, he made both foul shots to give Juniata an early lead. Buckets from Aze and Hardy keep pace, but the Warriors used a layup and two foul shots to take a three-point lead with two to play.
Hardy made a foul shot and, after a stop, kicked it to Campbell at the top of the key, who swished a three to give JC a one-point lead. The Warriors tied the game on a foul shot with 46 seconds to go in overtime.
The Warriors got the ball after an Eagle turnover and held for a last shot. Working in the post, the Warrior guard tried to drive middle from the left block and threw the ball into Kocak's hands. The referees blew their whistles for a foul, and the Lycoming player went one for two to make it 73-72 Lycoming. Juniata couldn't find space for a last-second heave as the Warriors escaped with a win.
Juniata returns to action Saturday at the University of Scranton at 2:00.