MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – It was a tough task here Saturday for the Gallaudet University men's basketball team as the Bison faced Penn State Harrisburg, a perennial power in the United East conference. The host Lions won going away 87-55 in the Capital Union Building.

This was the second straight first-place team Gallaudet (1-10, 0-4 United East) has faced this week in United East play. The Bison earlier in the week hosted and lost to Notre Dame of Maryland University, 85-60.

Penn St. Harrisburg (9-7, 5-0 United East) and the Gators from Notre Dame (10-7, 4-0 United East) are still undefeated in the United East. The two teams will face each other this Tuesday night in Baltimore.

The Lions jumped out to a quick 16-5 lead over the Bison before GU scored nine of the next 11 points to cut the margin down to four, 18-14, at the 11-minute mark. Sophomore guard Jory Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) scored on a fast-break layup, his eighth point of the game, to give GU 14 points.

Unfortunately, the Bison offense stalled out as the visitors missed six shots and made five turnovers over the course of the next seven minutes. Penn St.-Harrisburg scored 21 unanswered points to take a 39-14 lead.

First-year guard/forward Keanu Ray Boren (Frederick, Md.) made a jumper at the 3:46 mark to end the Bison drought.

The Lions took a 47-23 lead into halftime.

Penn St. Harrisburg scored the first nine points to begin the second half before Valencia made a free throw at the 16:16 mark as Gallaudet trailed 56-24. The Lions kept a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game as they outscored the Bison 40-32 in the second half.

Valencia tallied game-high marks for points (21) and assists (eight) while Boren was second on the team with 11 points.

The Lions were led by Dylan Moore's 18 points and five rebounds while David Reed IV came off the bench to net 12 points and grab four boards in the win.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns home to host Lancaster Bible College (11-4, 3-0 United East) on Tuesday, Jan. 13, for a 5 p.m. conference game.