GETTYSBURG, Pa. – November 12, 2021 – Hiram men's basketball picked up their first win of the 2021 season in a come from behind effort, defeating Penn State Abington, 66-63 competing in the Gettysburg Tip-Off Tournament. .

A tight ballgame until the final horn, Hiram started off with a 12-8 lead after a Chance Wells three-point shot about five minutes into the first half. As both teams seemingly traded baskets, Penn State Abington evened the score at 21 following an Alex Podolski basket at the 9:36 mark.

Down the stretch of the first half, the Nittany Lions took their largest lead of the first half at 33-28 following two Podolski free throws. Brodgie Gordon scored the final bucket of the first half for Hiram with 1:41 remaining, as Penn State Abington went into the locker room up 34-30.

The Nittany Lions quickly came out of the second half taking a seven-point lead with Darrion Harris making a two-point shot making it 39-32. Penn State Abington held their late through the middle parts of the second half, but the Terriers were easily in striking distance.

After chipping away, Virgil Crawford scored on a layup tying the contest at 48 with 8:57 left. Crawford again tied the game with a jumper as less than four minutes remained with the score all square at 56.

An and-one opportunity from Crawford put Hiram out in front at 61-58 as time dwindled down in regulation as under two minutes remained. Doug Sartain's two free throws with 32 seconds left gave the Terriers the slightest of breathing room, as they led 63-58.

Abington was able to get it down to one point, but two free throws from Kevin Beans Jr. sealed the deal as the Terriers came out victorious with a score of 66-63.  

"We were outstanding defensively and that was a big emphasis after Baldwin Wallace," Head Coach Taylor Roth said. "That game had a lot of highs and lows and our kids didn't flinch. It's great to see us finish a close game as a team."

Crawford led in scoring for Hiram posting 19 points shooting 8-9 from the field. Beans Jr. and Sartain each had 11.

Along with being the leading point scorer, Crawford was the top board man for the Terriers with eight rebounds. Gordon filled the stat sheet scoring eight points with four assists, three steals and two rebounds.

Collectively, Hiram shot 45.6% from the field, edging the Nittany Lions in rebounding at 35-33.

With the victory, Hiram moves to an even 1-1 on the young season.

The team plays tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 13, in the championship game vs. host school Gettysburg at 4 p.m.