The Elizabethtown College men’s basketball team enjoyed a successful weekend going 3-0 versus Drew University, Goucher College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The Blue Jays improved their record to 8-9, and extended their win-streak to 4 games.
Last Wednesday against Drew, the Blue Jay offense came out firing, shooting a season-high 63.5% overall, 62.5% from 3-point range. Senior guard Tyler Simpkiss tied a career high of 30 points that he set last year at home against Widener University. Sophomore guard Matt Lapkowicz had a career night as well, finishing the game with 19 points. The result never seemed to be in doubt for the Blue Jays, as they never trailed the Rangers after the 18:00 mark of the first half, when Lapkowicz nailed a 3-pointer to give Etown an 8-6 lead. The Blue Jays never looked back, eventually beating Drew by 21 points in a 97-76 victory. Other key players in the game were senior forward Lee Eckert and sophomore forward Josh Eden, whose defensive efforts and presence on the offensive boards made it tough for the Rangers to get anything going. Eckert was a force on offense, going 6-7 shooting and dropping 12 points in 25 minutes played, tallying three assists as well. Senior guard Phil Wenger was the playmaker on offense, racking up eight assists on the night.
The victory set the Jays up for greatness in their next fixture against Goucher College. The ailing 3-13 Gophers did not give Etown much trouble, as the Blue Jays cruised past Goucher to the tune of a 71-48 victory. Senior Joe Bodnar returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games, scoring eight points in the first half, and finishing the game with 10. The scoring was spread around the roster, with four players scoring in double digits, and nine players getting on the board. Sophomore forward Jake Sweger had a huge night, scoring 12 points on six attempts, and recording one steal in 20 minutes played. Also featuring prominently were Eckert and Simpkiss, each racking up 12 points as well in 24 minutes played, with the latter recording three assists. Once again the Blue Jays gained the lead in the 15th minute on another Lapkowicz 3-pointer, and ran away with it from there, climbing to a lead as high as 30 points at the 8:43 mark.
The team looked to improve their record and continue their winning streak against a tough Merchant Marine opponent that was still searching for its first Landmark Conference victory. Monday’s game was close throughout with Etown grabbing its largest lead of the first half at 10 before the Mariners cut the deficit to seven at halftime.
The Mariners cut into the Blue Jays’ lead and had the deficit at four at one point during the second half before Etown went on a 5-0 to push the lead back to nine. The Blue Jays were able to gain their largest lead of the game at 14 points late in the second half and hung on for a 73-65 victory, their fourth straight. The United States Merchant Marine Academy dropped to 3-13 overall and has yet to win a game in the Landmark Conference this season.
Eckert led all Blue Jays in scoring with 12 points, while Sweger and Bodnar joined him in double figures. Sweger grabbed a team-high six rebounds to go along with his 11 points. Ten different Blue Jays scored in the win.
Etown currently sits in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Landmark Conference standings.
The Blue Jays will return to action on Saturday at Thompson Gymnasium against Susquehanna University. Saturday’s match-up against Susquehanna will be a match-up of third and fourth place teams in the Landmark Conference and have major playoff implications.
Including Saturday’s game, Etown has only two home games remaining on this season’s schedule. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
