Bloomsburg Rallies For Win over Cheyney

BLOOMSBURG—Jeremiah Long's (New Columbia/Mifflinburg) jumper with 1:30 left to play gave Bloomsburg University its first lead since midway through the first half and the Huskies hung on for a 58-55 win over Cheyney University in men's basketball action Monday night. The game was a makeup after the teams were snowed-out on Saturday.

Long's jumper in the lane capped the Huskies comeback from an 11-point halftime deficit, 42-31 and gave Bloomsburg a 56-55 lead. Then in the game's final minute, the Wolves committed two turnovers before having to foul. The Huskies' John Owens (Philadelphia/Abington Friends) then hit two free throws with 22 seconds left to give Bloomsburg a three-point edge, 58-55. After a Cheyney timeout, the Wolves' Andre Logan missed a long three-pointer with three seconds left with Bloomsburg's Billy Bryan (Denver/Holy Name) grabbing the rebound and running out the clock.

In all, Bloomsburg held Cheyney without a point for the final 6:27 of the game as well to just 13 second half points.

Cheyney held the early lead in the game going up by four, 12-8, on a three-point play by Andre Logan. The Huskies, then, rallied and took their first lead of the game, 14-13, on a three-pointer by Mike Cheatle (Lower Gwynedd/Hatboro-Horsham). The team's then traded leads before the Wolves went on a 9-0 run to go in front by eight points, 24-16. Aassad Brown had five of the nine points for Cheyney in the run.

Bloomsburg then chipped away and pulled to within a point, 28-27, on a jumper by Owens with 7:20 left in the half. Cheyney would later close out the half with another 9-0 run with the Wolves Iren Rainey getting all nine points. Rainey hit two three-pointers and a three-point play in the final 1:38 of the half to give Cheyney the 11-point lead.

In the second half, the Huskies came out and scored six unanswered points to get within three. Owens scored four of the points on back-to-back jumpers for Bloomsburg.

The Wolves were able to hold on to the lead for most of the second half before the Huskies tied the game at 52-all on a three-point play by Andrew Jerry (Philadelphia/Olney) with 6:53 to play.

Cheyney's Iren Rainey then came down and quickly hit a three-pointer to give the visitors a three-point lead with 6:27 left.

Ryan Nenstiel (Nuremburg/Weatherly) then pulled Bloomsburg to within a point after stealing a pass near midcourt and going in for a layup with 5:46 to play.

The team's then traded missed shots for the next four minutes before Long hit his go-ahead jumper.

Bloomsburg, 5-13, 1-2 in the PSAC East, was led by Owens with a game-high 17 points, while Bob Nenstiel (Nurembrug/Weatherly) added 10 points and five rebounds.

Cheyney, 1-14, 0-3 in the PSAC East, got 15 points from Rainey, while Andre Logan added 12 and Sean King 10.

Bloomsburg will visit Mansfield on Wednesday night at 8 p.m.