MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Gallaudet University stepped off its Academy Bus on fire here Wednesday night as the Bison men's basketball team took down Penn St. Harrisburg, the top team in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC), with a 67-62 victory.

Gallaudet (5-16, 5-7 NEAC) shot 43.8 percent from the field and made 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) shots from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes of the game against Penn St. Harrisburg (14-7, 10-2 NEAC).

Senior guard Noah Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) made 16 of his game-high 23 points in the first half as he sank 4 of 5 shots from 3-point range. The Bison trailed early before they went on a 29-4 run to take a 29-8 lead with 6:43 left before halftime.

On the flip side, the Lions were ice cold in the first half as they only made 7 of 27 shots (25.9 percent) from the field, which included 2 of 13 (15.4 percent) from 3-point range. 

GU went into halftime up, 39-21.

In the second half, the buff and blue stretched its lead to 22 points in the first 10 minutes. The Lions went on their own 21-5 run to close the gap to 55-49 with six minutes left in regulation. 

Gallaudet was able to keep Penn St. Harrisburg at an arm's length away down the stretch to secure the key South Division win to keep GU's playoff hopes alive. 

Senior center Steve Valencia-Biskupiak (Riverside, Calif.) scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half and grabbed six rebounds. Junior guard Preston Kelly (Fishers, Ind.) finished with 11 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and one steal. 

BISON TRACKS

• Valencia added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks
• GU's starting five had six or more rebounds each
• Freshman Rory Lewis (Frederick, Md.) came off the bench to tally seven points and three rebounds
• The Lions held a 48-38 rebound edge
• GU scored 26 points in the paint
• The Bison scored 21 points off 17 turnovers made by Penn St. Harrisburg

UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns home and will host SUNY Morrisville (13-8, 10-2 NEAC) on Saturday, Feb. 15, for a 2 p.m. conference game on Alumni Madness Day.

Gallaudet Basketball Reunion (Feb. 14-15) sponsored by Sorenson Communications, LLC

The Gallaudet University men's and women's basketball programs will host a reunion weekend on Feb. 14-15, 2020, in the Field House for former GU basketball student-athletes, coaches and fans. If you are interested in attending the basketball reunion weekend please register here: http://igfn.us/form/PyyW3w. 

For more information: https://www.gallaudetathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/reunion-update

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