WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University men's basketball team won its second straight game here Tuesday night to begin the month of February as the Bison defeated Penn St.-Berks, 71-69, in a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) game in the Field House. 

Gallaudet (4-15, 4-6 NEAC) led for the majority of the first half and extended its lead to 12 points, in the final minute before halftime, as the Bison took a 45-36 lead into the locker room. 

Penn St.-Berks (2-16, 2-8 NEAC) got into the game in the second half and took the lead at the 13:36 mark up 51-49. This was the Nittany Lions' first lead since the opening minute of the first half. The visitors stretched their lead to 59-49 as they used a 16-0 run to flip a 49-43 GU lead to a 10-point lead in favor of Penn St.-Berks in a matter of five minutes. 

GU responded with four straight baskets, including three 3-pointers, to take a 60-59 lead with 6:39 left in regulation. From there the lead changed hands eight times as both teams went up-and-down the court. Junior guard Preston Kelly (Fishers, Ind.) came through with three aggressive drives in the lane to convert layups and regain the lead for Gallaudet on each basket. His final layup came with 28 seconds left as GU clung to a 70-69 lead.

PSB went down the court and missed a 3-pointer as junior Shawn Daniels (Lakeland, Fla.) made a big rebound and got fouled in the process. Daniels made the first of two shots from the free throw line with two seconds left in the game. Daniels missed his second shot but senior center Steve Valencia-Biskupiak (Riverside, Calif.) came down with the big offensive rebound as time expired.

Senior guard Noah Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) led all-scorers with 25 points as he surpassed 1,700 career points in the process. Valencia currently sits fifth all-time on Gallaudet's scoring list with 1,711 career points. Valencia scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half as he made 3 of 5 shots from 3-point range.

Valencia-Biskupiak finished with 14 points while freshman guard Kalib Jones (Frederick, Md.) tallied 11 points and a game-high four steals. Kelly had eight points in the game as he scored six points in the final four minutes of the contest. Kelly added nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals on the night. 

Penn St.-Berks was paced by Jared Houck and RJ Dixon, off the bench, as the pair scored 15 points each in the loss.

BISON TRACKS

• Gallaudet scored 30 points in the paint
• The Bison scored 20 points off 18 Nittany Lion turnovers
• GU scored 12 points in transition on fast break opportunities
• The game featured 11 lead changes and three ties
• Gallaudet led for over 27 minutes
• Both teams shot over 57 percent from the field in the first half and made seven 3-pointers each in the game
• PSB held a 30-26 edge in rebounds
• Gallaudet's Athletics Department partnered with the University's Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion along with the Health and Wellness Program on a food drive to help fill the GU Food Pantry on campus. Through food and cash donations, hundreds of meals will be able to be distributed to Gallaudet students this semester. This was part of the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion's second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service during Black History Month. 
• Gallaudet's Student-Athletes Advisory Council (SAAC) also got involved with the event and raised money during both game's halftimes with a half-court shot as fans donated money to the cause to take a shot from halfcourt. All money raised will be donated to the GU Food Pantry.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will travel to Lancaster Bible College (9-9, 7-2 NEAC) on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a 5 p.m. evening game.

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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