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Lyco men upset No. 25 Elizabethtown
By IAN QUILLEN, iquillen@msn.com
After Greg Sye straggled in late to a December practice, the Lycoming men’s basketball team began January with him sitting the first half against Wesley. Then it won three straight — all on the road — and Sye remained a sub since things, as they say, weren’t broke.
“It was difficult,” said Sye, the Warriors’ only post player who started regularly a season ago. “Who doesn’t want to start the game? But, you know, I’m coming off the bench, I’m there to help my team the best way I can.”
But the win streak ended at Carnegie Mellon nine days ago. And after Tuesday night’s thriller at Lamade Gym, Sye proved he may still be the soul of this bunch.
Don’t go crazy and chalk all of Lycoming’s 79-78 overtime victory over No. 25 Elizabethtown to one junior post player.
Not after a comeback from a 15-point halftime deficit that, in a MAC Commonwealth opener against the arguable league favorites, took something from everyone.
Senior guard Kevin Morris scored 28 points in what continues to be the best month of basketball in his college career.
Sophomore guard Eric Anthony overcame seven turnovers to score 17 points. More importantly, he rattled in a pull-up 3-pointer to tie it at 69-all with 16 seconds left, sending the crowd into rapture and forcing extra basketball.
And in a game where Lycoming coach Don Friday played 13 players, even James Oberlies’ steadying defense and Ricky Varnell’s four bench points were massive.
Still, in the most important moments, Sye took the bumps and bruises and hit the backdown layup, giving Lycoming (9-6, 1-0) a 76-75 lead it would hold for good. Sye hauled down the last defensive rebound after Mike Schatzman’s missed an acrobatic leaner for Elizabeth-town (13-2, 0-1).
And in a game where he looked lost early — even seeing one dunk stuffed by the rim — Sye hit three of his last four free throws to seal it. So when Schatzman’s desperation 3-pointer banked in with a second left, it still wasn’t enough.
“At first, I was a little nervous when we got into overtime,” said Sye, who also had 10 rebounds on a night Lycoming outrebounded its larger opponents, 49-36. “I knew they were big shots, and I had to calm myself down as much as I could and just follow through. And they went in.”
Said Friday, “He’s a great kid, he’s a respectful kid. Anybody who sees him play, he’s one of the most respectful kids you’ll ever meet.”
Schatzman finished with 36 points for Elizabethtown, who began the game on a 9-0 run and led 44-29 at halftime. Chad Piersol added 18 points, and with a squad as big, quick and interchangeable as advertised, the Blue Jays forced Lycoming into 26 turnovers.
That should’ve been enough. Instead, the Warriors scored the first nine points of the second half, with Sye converting a three-point play and finding Morris for 3 on a kickout to make it 44-38.
The lead then wavered between six and 10, before Sye stripped Mike Church twice to cut it to four, scoring on a putback of his own rim stuff and then hitting a foul shot to make it 55-51.
Later, Varnell hit a putback and Anthony drove through a busy lane for a layup to tie it at 59-all. And later still, Morris hit his sixth and last 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Lycoming its first lead, 64-63, moments after he, Anthony and David Wilson all missed 3 attempts.
“I’ve been shooting a lot better, and in my mind, I’ve got a lot more confidence going” said Morris, who has scored at least 12 points in every game this month. “When I get open looks, I’m going to take them. And I expect them to go in now.”
Elizabethtown hit six of eight foul shots to end regulation, and would’ve still walked out winners if Anthony’s pullup 3 hadn’t fallen. And even when Anthony and Morris hit overtime shots, the Blue Jays responded, with Josh Houseal’s post turn-around giving them their last lead at 75-74.
But Sye won almost all of the the final scrambles beneath the basket. At the end of a nine-day Lycoming layoff — and an even longer one for him — perhaps he had just a little more left.
“This time of year, some people might say, having that time off might ruin your rhythm,” said Elizabethtown coach Bob Schlosser. “I think having that time off helped them get healthy, get their legs. It made the difference tonight.”
Elizabethtown(13-1, 0-0)
Mike Schatzmann 12-26 7-9 36; Chad Piersol 4-12 8-12 18; Phil Schaffer 3-10 2-2 8; Josh Houseal 3-5 0-0 6; Mike Church 3-8 0-0 6; Bryce Rodgers 0-3 2-3 2; Keith Fogel 1-2 0-0 2; Ben Schlosser 0-0 0-0 0; Nick Kennedy 0-1 0-0 0; Jordan Dirago 0-0 0-0 0; Chris Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-67 19-26 78.
LYCOMING (8-6, 0-0)
Kevin Morris 10-15 2-2 28; Greg Sye 6-12 6-11 18; Eric Anthony 6-16 2-2 17; David Wilson 2-8 2-2 6; Richard Varnell 2-3 0-0 4; Jemayne Nowlin 1-8 1-2 4; Billy Goodell 1-1 0-0 2; Josh Chmelik 0-1 0-0 0; Anthony Watson 0-0 0-0 0; James Oberlies 0-0 0-0 0; Aaron DeVane 0-1 0-0 0; Will Kelly 0-2 0-0 0; Josh Artis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-67 13-19 79.
Halftime - Elizabethtown 44-29. 3-point goals--Elizabethtown 7-20 (Mike Schatzmann 5-11; Chad Piersol 2-5; Josh Houseal 0-2; Mike Church 0-1; Phil Schaffer 0-1), Lycoming 10-25 (Kevin Morris 6-10; Eric Anthony 3-8; Jemayne Nowlin 1-4; David Wilson 0-3). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Elizabethtown 36 (Mike Schatzmann 7; Mike Church 7), Lycoming 9 (Greg Sye 10). Assists--Elizabethtown15 (Phil Schaffer 7), Lycoming 16 (James Oberlies 3; David Wilson 3; Kevin Morris 3). Total fouls--Elizabethtown 15, Lycoming 24.
“It was difficult,” said Sye, the Warriors’ only post player who started regularly a season ago. “Who doesn’t want to start the game? But, you know, I’m coming off the bench, I’m there to help my team the best way I can.”
But the win streak ended at Carnegie Mellon nine days ago. And after Tuesday night’s thriller at Lamade Gym, Sye proved he may still be the soul of this bunch.
Don’t go crazy and chalk all of Lycoming’s 79-78 overtime victory over No. 25 Elizabethtown to one junior post player.
Not after a comeback from a 15-point halftime deficit that, in a MAC Commonwealth opener against the arguable league favorites, took something from everyone.
Senior guard Kevin Morris scored 28 points in what continues to be the best month of basketball in his college career.
Sophomore guard Eric Anthony overcame seven turnovers to score 17 points. More importantly, he rattled in a pull-up 3-pointer to tie it at 69-all with 16 seconds left, sending the crowd into rapture and forcing extra basketball.
And in a game where Lycoming coach Don Friday played 13 players, even James Oberlies’ steadying defense and Ricky Varnell’s four bench points were massive.
Still, in the most important moments, Sye took the bumps and bruises and hit the backdown layup, giving Lycoming (9-6, 1-0) a 76-75 lead it would hold for good. Sye hauled down the last defensive rebound after Mike Schatzman’s missed an acrobatic leaner for Elizabeth-town (13-2, 0-1).
And in a game where he looked lost early — even seeing one dunk stuffed by the rim — Sye hit three of his last four free throws to seal it. So when Schatzman’s desperation 3-pointer banked in with a second left, it still wasn’t enough.
“At first, I was a little nervous when we got into overtime,” said Sye, who also had 10 rebounds on a night Lycoming outrebounded its larger opponents, 49-36. “I knew they were big shots, and I had to calm myself down as much as I could and just follow through. And they went in.”
Said Friday, “He’s a great kid, he’s a respectful kid. Anybody who sees him play, he’s one of the most respectful kids you’ll ever meet.”
Schatzman finished with 36 points for Elizabethtown, who began the game on a 9-0 run and led 44-29 at halftime. Chad Piersol added 18 points, and with a squad as big, quick and interchangeable as advertised, the Blue Jays forced Lycoming into 26 turnovers.
That should’ve been enough. Instead, the Warriors scored the first nine points of the second half, with Sye converting a three-point play and finding Morris for 3 on a kickout to make it 44-38.
The lead then wavered between six and 10, before Sye stripped Mike Church twice to cut it to four, scoring on a putback of his own rim stuff and then hitting a foul shot to make it 55-51.
Later, Varnell hit a putback and Anthony drove through a busy lane for a layup to tie it at 59-all. And later still, Morris hit his sixth and last 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Lycoming its first lead, 64-63, moments after he, Anthony and David Wilson all missed 3 attempts.
“I’ve been shooting a lot better, and in my mind, I’ve got a lot more confidence going” said Morris, who has scored at least 12 points in every game this month. “When I get open looks, I’m going to take them. And I expect them to go in now.”
Elizabethtown hit six of eight foul shots to end regulation, and would’ve still walked out winners if Anthony’s pullup 3 hadn’t fallen. And even when Anthony and Morris hit overtime shots, the Blue Jays responded, with Josh Houseal’s post turn-around giving them their last lead at 75-74.
But Sye won almost all of the the final scrambles beneath the basket. At the end of a nine-day Lycoming layoff — and an even longer one for him — perhaps he had just a little more left.
“This time of year, some people might say, having that time off might ruin your rhythm,” said Elizabethtown coach Bob Schlosser. “I think having that time off helped them get healthy, get their legs. It made the difference tonight.”
Elizabethtown(13-1, 0-0)
Mike Schatzmann 12-26 7-9 36; Chad Piersol 4-12 8-12 18; Phil Schaffer 3-10 2-2 8; Josh Houseal 3-5 0-0 6; Mike Church 3-8 0-0 6; Bryce Rodgers 0-3 2-3 2; Keith Fogel 1-2 0-0 2; Ben Schlosser 0-0 0-0 0; Nick Kennedy 0-1 0-0 0; Jordan Dirago 0-0 0-0 0; Chris Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-67 19-26 78.
LYCOMING (8-6, 0-0)
Kevin Morris 10-15 2-2 28; Greg Sye 6-12 6-11 18; Eric Anthony 6-16 2-2 17; David Wilson 2-8 2-2 6; Richard Varnell 2-3 0-0 4; Jemayne Nowlin 1-8 1-2 4; Billy Goodell 1-1 0-0 2; Josh Chmelik 0-1 0-0 0; Anthony Watson 0-0 0-0 0; James Oberlies 0-0 0-0 0; Aaron DeVane 0-1 0-0 0; Will Kelly 0-2 0-0 0; Josh Artis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-67 13-19 79.
Halftime - Elizabethtown 44-29. 3-point goals--Elizabethtown 7-20 (Mike Schatzmann 5-11; Chad Piersol 2-5; Josh Houseal 0-2; Mike Church 0-1; Phil Schaffer 0-1), Lycoming 10-25 (Kevin Morris 6-10; Eric Anthony 3-8; Jemayne Nowlin 1-4; David Wilson 0-3). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Elizabethtown 36 (Mike Schatzmann 7; Mike Church 7), Lycoming 9 (Greg Sye 10). Assists--Elizabethtown15 (Phil Schaffer 7), Lycoming 16 (James Oberlies 3; David Wilson 3; Kevin Morris 3). Total fouls--Elizabethtown 15, Lycoming 24.
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