Elizabethtown College Men's Basketball
Wednesday, January 24, 2001

ETOWN PULLS OUT CLOSE WIN OVER LEBANON VALLEY, 67-63

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- Elizabethtown improved to 14-3 overall and 6-2 in the Commonwealth Conference with a close 67-63 win over Lebanon Valley on the road Wednesday. It was only the second time in eight games this season that Lebanon Valley (9-9, 4-4) lost at home.

Elizabethtown carried a hard-fought 29-28 lead into halftime after trailing most of the first period. Etown took a 5-4 lead just over two minutes into the game on a three-pointer by Brian Loftus (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West), but when Lebanon Valley took a 7-5 lead on another three moments later, Etown would not regain the lead for another 17 minutes.

The high-water mark of the Flying Dutchmen's first half lead was 26-18 following a pair of foul shots by Ryan Moore (Windber, PA/Windber) with 5:48 remaining. Etown pulled to within two on a jumper by Bob Porambo (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) with 2:08 remaining, making the score 26-24. Lebanon Valley pulled ahead 28-24 on free throws by Darren Pugh (Shippensburg, PA/Shippensburg) at 1:34.

With 54 seconds left, Britt Moore (West Stockbridge, MA/St. Joes) was fouled and made both of his free throws for Etown. Three seconds later, Etown's Chad Heller (New Holland, PA/Garden Spot) scored off a steal and was fouled. He made his foul shot to put Etown ahead 29-28.

Etown pulled out to a six point lead three minutes into the second half, and extended the advantage to ten with 7:58 to go on a three-pointer by Ross Unruh (Denver, PA/Cocalico). By 5:53 left, Lebanon Valley cut the lead to four. LVC cut Etown's lead to one with 3:48 to go on a jumper by Ron Knerr (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill). Knerr hit a pair of foul shots with 3:04 to go to give the Dutchmen a 61-60 lead.

Etown recaptured the lead for good on a layup by Jon English (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddon Twp.) at 2:50. English totaled five points in the final three minutes for the Blue Jays. Loftus sealed the victory with 11 seconds remaining on a pair of foul shots to make the score 67-63. He is now shooting 32 for 33 from the foul line for the season.

Etown's high scorer was Unruh with 13 points. He also led the team with four assists. Porambo pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and had 10 points. Loftus was Etown's other double digit scorer with 10.

Etown returns to action on the road against Albright Saturday, January 27. Game time is 8:00 p.m.

Elizabethtown College vs Lebanon Valley College
1/24/01 7:30 p.m. at Annville, PA
At Annville, PA
ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE 67, LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE 63

ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE (14-3 / 6-2)
Ross Unruh 5-11 0-0 13; Brian Loftus 3-7 2-2 10; Bob Porambo 5-16 0-1 10; Jon English 4-6 1-2 9; Matt Nikoloff 4-7 0-0 8; Chad Heller 2-4 3-3 7; Brian Marquette 2-2 0-1 4; Britt Moore 1-3 2-2 4; Dustin Werdt 1-3 0-0 2; Rocky Parise 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 8-11 67.

LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE (9-9 / 4-4)
Steve Horst 7-15 6-6 20; Darren Pugh 6-9 2-5 14; Ron Knerr 4-10 2-2 10; Drew Brayford 3-5 1-2 8; Ryan Moore 2-3 2-2 6; Chris Ziegler 1-9 0-2 3; John Sharkey 1-5 0-0 2; Evan Harlor 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 13-19 63.

Elizabethtown College......... 29 38 - 67
Lebanon Valley College........ 28 35 - 63

3-point goals-Elizabethtown College 5-21 (Ross Unruh 3-5; Brian Loftus 2-4; Chad Heller 0-1; Britt Moore 0-2; Dustin Werdt 0-2; Rocky Parise 0-2; Bob Porambo 0-5), Lebanon Valley College 2-14 (Chris Ziegler 1-6; Drew Brayford 1-3; Ryan Moore 0-1; Evan Harlor 0-2; Steve Horst 0-2). Fouled out--Elizabethtown College-None, Lebanon Valley College-None. Rebounds-Elizabethtown College 36 (Bob Porambo 9), Lebanon Valley College 38 (Darren Pugh 13). Assists-Elizabethtown College 13 (Ross Unruh 4), Lebanon Valley College 11 (Chris Ziegler 3; Steve Horst 3). Total fouls-Elizabethtown College 20, Lebanon Valley College 18. A-900