On Monday, Feb. 26, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre men's basketball team played Penn State Lehigh Valley at home in the first round of the PSUAC playoffs at 7 p.m. 

In the first half, the Mountain Lions were the first to score in the game, #20 sophomore Anton Berga (Queens, New York/Martin Luther High School) making a layup. Scoring was neck and neck, both teams putting up points one after the other. 

Lehigh Valley started to gain a lead, but #13 junior Jedidiah Ashton (Brooklyn, New York/Monroe College) made two free throws, getting Mountain Lion scoring rolling again. 

Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh Valley proved to be evenly matched in the first half. The race to advance to the next round of playoffs made both teams play harder than ever, competing to come out on top. 

#12 senior Jalen Willis (Baltimore, Maryland/Genesee C.C.) then made both his free throws, putting the Mountain Lions one point ahead. By halftime, the score was 46-45 Wilkes-Barre. 

Scoring in the second half started with Lehigh Valley, but #15 senior Wilvens Fleurizard (Tamarac, Florida/PSU Schuylkill) quickly made a layup to even the playing field. Points stayed relatively even until about 12 minutes left in the half, when Lehigh Valley crept up with a 10-point lead over the Mountain Lions. 

Jalen Willis made a layup, cutting Lehigh Valley off from a bigger lead. Although the opposing team was ahead, the Mountain Lions did not let it stop them. With Anton Berga's free throw, Wilkes-Barre was now just three points behind. 

The Mountain Lions kept up with Lehigh Valley, eventually only two points behind after a layup from Jalen Willis. The score became tied 87-87 with forty seconds left in the game.  

Lehigh Valley made a layup with five seconds left.  Wilkes-Barre attempted but could not complete a three-point shot, which would have put them ahead by one point. The final score of the game was 89-87 Lehigh Valley. 

Top points scorers of the game were Jalen Willis with 31, Anton Berga with 21, and #14 senior Teequan Holley (Queens, New York/Sullivan C.C.) with 11. 

Written by Kyler Burke

Photo Credits: Alyssa Ellsworth, Strategic Communications