BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – When it mattered most, the Lock Haven University men's basketball team (11-12, 8-11 PSAC) came up with some crucial defensive plays to topple Bloomsburg University (5-18, 4-15 PSAC) 85-79 in an important Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup which held serious playoff implications for both teams.
 
The Bald Eagles and Huskies both got off to strong starts and the opening ten minutes reflected the intensity of the game. With 12 minutes to play in the opening half, the two sides were locked at 18-18, but DaQuan Granberry (Linwood, Pa./Chichester) and MarkAnthony Fidelis (Largo, Md./DeMatha) began to catch fire and helped the Bald Eagles build up a 44-38 lead going into the break.
 
Granberry poured in 17 points in the opening half, and was matched by Fidelis who knocked in 15 first-half points. Both players shot a strong 60 percent from the floor to help LHU claw out a six-point lead.
 
The Bald Eagles built up their largest lead of nine points early in the second half, but Bloomsburg responded and chipped away at the lead before eventually taking a 67-65 lead with just six minutes to play. The teams continued to trade leads in the final minutes, before a five-point solo burst from Eli Washington (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) pushed The Haven out to a 79-75 advantage with four minutes to play.
 
The Huskies fired back to draw within one point at 79-78 with just two minutes to play. Both sides were locked in defensively in the final two minutes until Fidelis got to the line with 35 seconds to play. The Bald Eagle guard sunk both shots to edge LHU ahead 81-78. After a Bloomsburg free throw, Granberry went to the line and knocked down both shots to give LHU the decisive 82-78 lead. Following yet another defensive stop, Fidelis made a pair from the stripe and the Bald Eagles brought home the all-important PSAC victory over the Huskies 85-79.
 
The win gives the Bald Eagles a crucial boost in its playoff push, and extends The Haven's winning streak to five games, which is LHU's longest since the 2015-16 season.
 
Granberry and Fidelis led four Bald Eagles in double figures and each contributed 22 points apiece. Both finished an identical 7-14 from the field as the duo racked up the points on an efficient night for LHU.
 
Jesse McPherson (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Eli Washington (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) also notched 14 points on 6-10 from the field.
 
As a team, LHU shot an impressive 47 percent from the field including 44 percent from beyond the arc.
 
The Bald Eagles enforced their will in the paint and held a commanding 40-18 lead in points in the paint, and also blocked five Bloomsburg shots.
 
SCHEDULE UPDATE:
LHU's game against East Stroudsburg, originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 23, has been rescheduled to Monday, February 21. Tipoff is now set for 7:00 p.m.
 
UP NEXT: 
The Bald Eagles return home on Saturday (Feb. 19) to host West Chester at 3:00 p.m. in Thomas Fieldhouse. Saturday's game also serves as Senior Day as the Bald Eagles honor the graduating class of 2022.