LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Standout Matt Cerruti (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was at it again and his stellar play, particularity in the second half, led the Lock Haven University men's basketball team (10-10, 7-8 PSAC) to a thrilling 78-75 win over longtime local-rival Bloomsburg University (5-16, 2-14 PSAC) Saturday afternoon at the Thomas Fieldhouse.
                                                           
The win helped Lock Haven lock up a 2018-19 postseason berth as the Bald Eagles clinched a playoff spot. For the first time since 2016-17, LHU will return to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.
 
It will mark the fifth PSAC Tournament appearance for Lock Haven under eighth-year head coach Mike Nestor.
 
The win also snapped a long losing streak to Bloomsburg. The Bald Eagles had lost eight straight to BU and hadn't beaten the Huskies since January 24, 2015.
 
Cerruti continued to give PSAC Eastern Division defenses fits and finished with a game-high 30 points, one point shy of establishing a new career-high. His superb second half helped LHU turn a 35-31 halftime deficit into a huge win for the Bald Eagles.
 
In the second half alone, Cerruti scored 24 of his 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dealt five assists.
 
He knocked down 10 of his 19 shots from the field, including 3-6 from three-point land. He also was a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line to go along with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in an all-around sensational effort.
 
Jihad Barnes (Philadelphia/Philadelphia Electric Charter) also played a strong game, finishing with 10 points to go with six rebounds and six assists. Jesse McPherson (Philadelphia/Archbishop Wood) totaled 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks while Noah Warren (Chester, Pa./Neuman-Gorreti) knocked down four three-pointers and finished with 12 points to round out the four Bald Eagles that tallied double figures.
 
Overall, LHU forced 17 Bloomsburg turnovers and really took care of the ball, recording only seven themselves.

The Bald Eagles will return to action on Wednesday, February 13 when they host East Stroudsburg at 7:30 p.m.