Homecoming Game Goes into Overtime
On Friday, November 18, the men's basketball team suited up in front of their home crowd for the first time this season. The Warriors battled against the Penn State University (PSU) Nittany Lions. This game was a tail of two halves. The Warriors held a 17 point lead at halftime with complete control of the game. The Nittany Lions fought back in the second half, mounting a huge comeback to keep the game within striking distance.
The Warriors were plagued by turnovers, foul trouble and missed free throw opportunities which prevented them from closing out the game against PSU Leghigh Valley. With four seconds left in the game and the Warriors up by two points, the Nittany Lions' Jordan Young went the full length of the court and connected on a layup to force overtime. Young's game tying basket in regulation propelled his team in overtime. The Nittany Lions led for most of the overtime period, but the Warriors would not go out quietly.
Vaughn College's senior guard Michael Pena (Dumont, NJ) returner Ian Parker (Yonkers, NY) and newcomer Kevin Vanderpool (Yonkers, NY) all made huge plays to keep the Warriors alive in overtime. Vanderpool connected on a critical jump shot at with seven seconds to go in overtime to give the Warriors a 98-97 lead. Once again the Warriors let the Nittany Lions go the full length of the court without anyone on Vaughn College stepping up to stop the ball. Nittany Lions' James Middleton coverted a tough lay-up after being fouled to put PSU Leghigh Valley up 99-98 with .04 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Nittany Lions pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat the Warriors on Homecoming. The loss drops the Warriors record to 1-2 on the season. Pena and Parker both finished the game with 25 points and seven rebounds. Vanderpool finished with a game high 32 points and seven rebounds.
The Warriors will regroup over the Thanksgiving holiday break and return to the court on Thursday, December 1. They will be away against NAIA division II Fisher College.