MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The 2023-24 campaign concluded for the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team Wednesday night (Feb. 21) in the championship game of the United East Conference Volt Division Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. Third-seeded St. Mary's College (16-12) dropped an 80-56 decision to top-seeded Penn State Harrisburg (23-4) to finish as the Volt Division Tournament runners-up.
How It Happened
- Harrisburg knocked down seven three-pointers in the first half, including draining four straight to start the half and claim a 12-3 lead at 16:18. The Nittany Lions led by as many as nine points during the first 20 minutes.
- The Seahawks pulled within three (14-11) at 12:14 on a layup by first-year guard Kyree Smith (Baltimore, Md./City). Harrisburg responded with a 12-6 spurt for a 26-17 advantage at 4:29.
- First-year guard James Lerner (Herndon, Va./Maret) scored five straight to spark a 13-9 push to end the half and close the cap to 35-30 at halftime.
- The Nittany Lions used a 13-3 run, including five in a row by Isaiah Eggleston to ignite the run, to start the second half and grow their lead to double-digits – 48-33 with 15:24 remaining in the game.
- St. Mary's College's offensive efficiency dipped to 23.5-percent in the second half and the Seahawks were unable to make any dents in Harrisburg's lead.
Inside the Box Score
- The hosts outrebounded SMCM, 50-33, as three Nittany Lions finished with double-digit rebounds.
St. Mary's College Game Notes
- Lerner finished as the team's scoring leader with a career-best 14 points while adding three assists and two rebounds.
- Fifth-year captain Daryn Alexander (Twinbrook, Md./Richard Montgomery) and sophomore forward Jake Koverman (Severna Park, Md./Southern) each chipped in 10 points.
- Alexander also grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds while Koverman contributed four boards and collected a career-best three blocks.
Penn State Harrisburg Game Notes
- Donyae Baylor-Carroll led all players with 27 points and 11 caroms while dishing out seven dimes and picking three pockets as the Nittany Lions beat SMCM for the third time this season.
Up Next for the Seahawks
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