Box Score
ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Even with
Derek Hall's double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds, and
Zac Shaeffer's game-high 24 points, the Lions (11-5/3-2 Commonwealth) were unable to pull out their fifth straight win, as they were handed an 81-76 conference loss by the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College (11-3/3-2 Commonwealth) Saturday afternoon at Thompson Gymnasium.
Pushing the Blue Jays to the conference win was an 11-0 run to close out the first half. They then used that momentum to keep a steady lead over the Lions throughout the opening minutes of the second. However, Albright did manage to chip away at that lead and with just under ten minutes to play tied the game at 59-59.
Unfortunately, another late run by the Blue Jays quickly made it a four-point game following back-to-back field goals. Far from over, the red and white began to close the gap between them and the Blue Jays once again. With just over three minutes to play in regulation Hall made it a one point game again on solid shooting at the line.
Junior
Shane Irwin would tie the game at 73 each with less than two minutes to play after going 1-for-2 at the charity strip. However a 3-pointer by Etown's Joe Flanagan and then a trio of field goals in the final 1:30 would seal the Blue Jays win.
The Lions tried to keep the game close at the free throw line, but were unable to convert on all their opportunities. Keith Fogel paced the Blue Jays with his team-best 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting, which included three 3-pointers, and three free throws.
For Hall, his afternoon was made up of 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 shooting at the line. Shaeffer who has hit his stride as of late was 8-for-14 from the floor and 6-for-9 from behind the arc. At the line, Shaeffer was 2-for-4 overall.
Albright led the contest in shooting and rebounding as they shot 52% from the field and held 40-36 advantage on the glass. The two teams were almost even from 3-point range as Albright shot 42% and Elizabethtown 48%.
Men's basketball returns to the Bollman Center on Wednesday when they host Arcadia University at 8 p.m.
