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HAMBURG, N.Y. - Sophomore Hayden Pardoe, a Central Mountain graduate, finished with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds and junior Isaiah Valentine added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Lycoming College men's basketball team, which succumbed to a late rally from Franciscan University, 75-70, in the opening round of the Hawks for Hunger Tip-Off Tournament at the Brad Hafner Recreation Center on Friday.
The Warriors (0-1 overall) shot 55 percent (28-of-51) from the field, but Franciscan (1-0 overall) held a 19-8 advantage in second-chance point, as they posted 20 offensive rebounds.
Lycoming will face Buffalo State, which fell to Hilbert, 71-69, in the consolation game of the tournament at 1 p.m., on Saturday.
Senior Ivan Komitski added 11 points and sophomore Ethan Bomgardner added nine points, seven rebounds and two assists. Freshman Brian Kopp and sophomore Misaias Herrera each added six points. First-year Noah Mathis added four blocked shots.
The teams fought through nine ties and 11 lead changes in the game. Neither team led by more than four in the first half, with a 3-pointer from Franciscan's Aiden Townsend at the end of the period giving it a 29-27 lead at the break.
The Barons started a run of eight straight points early in the second half, taking a 42-35 lead with 15:50 left before the Warriors started a run of 14 straight points, as Pardoe started the run and ended it with a 3-pointer from the corner, making it 49-42 with 11:55 left.
The Warriors led by six with 8:28 left, but the Barons went on a 17-6 run to take a 67-63 lead as Sawyer Butler hit a 3-pointer with 2:18 left. Lycoming pulled within two with 1:55 left, but Franciscan answered with six straight points before Herrera hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left. Butler hit two free throws to seal the win.
Butler led the Barons with 22 points and eight rebounds, Townsent added 11 points and Josh Zimmerman added 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals.