WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University took a halftime lead into the locker room and increased the margin to five, early in the second half, but couldn't hold on against Lancaster Bible College as the Bison lost 74-70 here Tuesday night in a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) men's basketball game in the Field House.

Gallaudet (2-6, 2-1 NEAC) lost a conference game at home for the first time this season. Lancaster Bible (5-1, 3-0 NEAC) sits on top of the NEAC South Division after its comeback against the Bison.

The visiting Chargers got off to a hot start scoring the game's first seven points and took a 9-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. LBC's lead later grew to 14-6 before GU tied the game at 16. Gallaudet used a 13-5 run over the final five minutes of the first half to take a 36-33 lead into halftime.

The Chargers outscored Gallaudet 39-27 during an 18-minute stretch in the second half to secure the win and stay unbeaten in conference play.

Sophomore guard Noah Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) scored a game-high 23 points as he made 9 of 16 shots from the field for GU. Senior forward Andy Cruz (Bronx, N.Y.) and junior guard Jawaun Jackson (Downey, Calif.) scored 18 and 12 points, respectively.

Lancaster Bible had four players in double figures led by guards Herbie Brown and Jalen Archer who scored 18 and 16 points, respectively. Forward Christo Majok (14 points) and Britton Beachy (12 points) were the other two players to surpass 10 in the game.

BISON TRACKS

• Gallaudet scored 35 points off 27 turnovers by LBC
• The game featured eight lead changes and seven ties
• GU still holds an 8-7 all-time mark against LBC

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will travel to Bryn Athyn College (3-2, 1-0 NEAC) on Saturday, Dec. 9, for a 1 p.m. conference game.