**Bloomsburg Escapes Lock Haven 68-67 in Thrilling PSAC Contest**
LOCK HAVEN, PA – Bloomsburg survived a furious second-half rally by Lock Haven to escape Thomas Fieldhouse with a nail-biting 68-67 victory Monday night, improving to 6-15 overall and 4-12 in PSAC play.
The Huskies appeared in control for much of the contest, building leads as large as 11 points in both halves, but needed to withstand a dramatic finish as the Bald Eagles nearly completed a stunning comeback before 373 fans.
Ries Naugle led Bloomsburg's offensive attack with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting, adding seven assists, three steals and two blocks in a stellar all-around performance. The guard was particularly effective getting to the rim and drawing fouls, converting 3-of-3 free throw attempts.
Kodi Johnson provided crucial scoring punch off the bench with 19 points, connecting on 5-of-6 three-point attempts. His hot shooting helped Bloomsburg maintain separation during key stretches, particularly in the second half when Lock Haven threatened to take control.
Chase Smucker contributed 10 points, all from beyond the arc on 3-of-7 shooting, while Gabe Springer added 10 points on an efficient 5-of-6 from the field before fouling out.
For Lock Haven (5-14, 3-11 PSAC), Blake Deegan nearly single-handedly willed his team to victory with a game-high 20 points, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. The forward was especially dangerous late, scoring eight points in the final two minutes to nearly complete the comeback.
Keith Warren added 12 points and Luke Kennevan chipped in nine points with five rebounds for the Bald Eagles, who outrebounded Bloomsburg 32-28 but couldn't overcome 12 turnovers.
The game's complexion shifted dramatically in the final minutes. After Bloomsburg extended their lead to 68-59 on Johnson's third three-pointer with 2:25 remaining, Lock Haven mounted a desperate rally. Devon Nelson converted a putback to cut the deficit to seven, and after a series of missed Bloomsburg free throws, Deegan buried a critical three-pointer with 44 seconds left to pull the Bald Eagles within 68-67.
Lock Haven had one final opportunity when Luke Kennevan stole the ball with 10 seconds remaining, but Deegan's potential game-winner fell short at the buzzer, preserving Bloomsburg's narrow victory.
The Huskies shot 48.1% from the field (25-52) and knocked down 10 three-pointers, while Lock Haven managed just 37.5% shooting (24-64) despite controlling the paint with 34 points inside.
Both teams struggled with turnovers, as Bloomsburg committed 19 to Lock Haven's 12, but the Huskies' superior three-point shooting ultimately proved decisive in the low-scoring affair.
The victory snapped a recent skid for Bloomsburg, while Lock Haven's late-game execution issues continued to plague their conference campaign. Both teams return to action later this week as PSAC play intensifies down the stretch.