Box Score LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University men's basketball team (7-4) picked up its third straight win, as the Bald Eagles downed Pitt-Johnstown (8-4), 81-76 in an overtime thriller at Thomas Fieldhouse.

Lock Haven came out on fire, thanks to great shooting and tough rebounding and led, 20-8 with 11:22 to play. The Haven pushed its lead to as many as 20 points in the period, before settling for a, 39-26 halftime lead.

Kasheef Festus (Philadelphia/Archbishop Carroll) was dominant in the opening period. He scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for a first half double-double. Festus' 11 rebounds in the first half were more than the 6'5" senior had recorded in any full game this season.

Al Blount (Northampton, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) and Julian Bond (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) each made two three's for LHU in the first 20 minutes.

The Mountain Cats chipped away at The Haven lead throughout the second half, cutting LHU's lead to just, 64-61 with 3:37 remaining.

After a Festus free throw put The Haven up, 68-67 with 0:22 to play, Bootsie Walker (Chester, Pa./Chester) drew an offensive foul to gain possession back for LHU.

Wali Hepburn (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) was intentionally fouled on the inbounds and drew two free throws, putting LHU up by three. Andrew Cressler drew a foul on a three-point attempt on the ensuing UPJ possession and connected on all three free throws to send the game to overtime.

UPJ gained its first lead of the game early in overtime, and the Mountain Cats led, 76-73 with 3:13 remaining.

Lock Haven was resilient however, refusing to let the game slip out of reach. The Haven locked down UPJ, holding the Mountain Cats scoreless for the rest of the game on their way to a, 81-76 win.

Hepburn finished with a game-high 23 points in the win. He added five assists and four rebounds.

Festus totaled 22 points and 13 rebounds on the day. It was his second double-double of the season.

Walker added eight points and six rebounds.

Bond finished with 11 points off the bench for LHU.

Cressler led five Mountain Cats in double-figures with 20 points.

Lock Haven is right back in action tomorrow (January 4) when the Bald Eagles host IUP in a PSAC crossover matchup. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.

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Game Notes:
Lock Haven entered today's game winners of three of its last four games and the Bald Eagles have already matched their win total from a year ago…Wali Hepburn leads LHU with 19.6 points per game which are the fifth-most in the PSAC…Kasheef Festus entered the weekend averaging 13.4 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game…As a team, the Bald Eagles were ranked eighth of 18 PSAC teams in both scoring offense and scoring defense and LHU was ranked fifth in the PSAC in scoring margin.