READING, Pa.- Sophomore guard Rory Lewis (Frederick, Md.) had a game to remember here Saturday afternoon as he recorded a career best 34 points in Gallaudet University's thrilling 81-78 overtime win over Penn St.-Berks in a United East Conference men's basketball game. 

Lewis drained his fifth 3-pointer of the game with 14 seconds left in the second half to knot the game at 71-71. Penn St.-Berks (0-6, 0-2 United East) missed a layup to win the game as the teams went to overtime.

In the extra period, junior guard Corey Smith (Miami, Fla.) and freshman guard Malosi Viena (Waipahu, Hawaii) scored four and three points, respectively, out of Gallaudet's 10 points to help seal the win. The Nittany Lions missed their final seven shots from the field in the closing two minutes of play as Gallaudet (1-6, 1-1 United East) celebrated its first win of the season.

Gallaudet last won a game on February 12, 2020, when the Bison defeated Penn St. Harrisburg, 67-62, on the road, a span of 662 days. Today's win snapped an 10-game losing streak dating back to the 2019-20 season. The 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lewis finished with a game-high 34 points as he made 9 of 24 shots from the field as he went 5-for-11 from 3-point range and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Lewis completed the double-double as he grabbed 10 rebounds, made three steals and passed out two assists.

Smith finished with a season-high 22 points, eight boards and four assists. The 22 points are the most scored by Smith since the 2017-18 season. Freshman forward Brandon Chung (Kahului, Hawaii.) had a solid game with eight points, a game-high 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.

Penn St.-Berks guards Jeff Lorah and Jared Houck led the Nittany Lions with 23 and 21 points, respectively. Lorah made seven 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds while Houck passed out six assists.

The Nittany Lions led 34-25 at the half before Gallaudet outscored the host by nine points, 46-37, in the second half. 

BISON TRACKS

• Viena (six rebounds) scored three of his four points in the overtime period
• The Bison had made 76.7 percent of their free throws (23-for-30)
• Gallaudet tied its season-high with six 3-pointers
• GU out rebounded the Nittany Lions by nine boards, 45-36
• This was Gallaudet's first overtime game since Feb. 10, 2019, a 71-66 road loss at Wells
• Gallaudet's last overtime victory came on Feb. 9, 2019, a 91-84 win at Keuka

UP NEXT
The Bison will head the state capital of Maryland on Monday, Dec. 6, to play an exhibition game with the U.S. Naval Academy JV men's basketball team at 6 p.m. in the Halsey Field House in Annapolis. Fans will be allowed at the game but no parking will be allowed on the Naval Academy grounds. Fans will need to enter by Gate 1 at the Visitor's Entrance and remain masked at all times on the Naval Academy grounds and inside the Halsey Field House. 

NOTE: This game story was updated after the original posting to reflect the statistic change in the final box score as one 3-pointer should've been credited to #55 Jake Schwall and not #5 Rory Lewis.