LANGHORNE, PA - It was all Willie Miller to open the game. But unfortunately, it was all Keystone College to end it.
Miller practically threw the Crimson Eagles on his back during the first 20 minutes of play as the sophomore guard carried PBU by connecting on seven of nine attempts from the floor, tallying 15 points and six boards in the opening stanza. But despite Miller's first half efforts (one that included a nifty flip over-the-head-no-look-Dwyane-Wade type bucket), Keystone maintained a consistent, steady scoring attack throughout the contest, placing five players in double figures by night's end in the Giants' emphatic 78-60 victory over the Crimson Eagles.
Keystone shot 52.8 percent from the floor for the game - including a nearly identical mark from the three point line (9 for 17, 52.9 percent) - to give the team their sixth victory in their last eight tries. PBU's 50 percent first half shooting wasn't enough to combat a somewhat lackluster offensive performance in the second stanza that saw the Crimson Eagles come up errant on all seven of their three point tries and connect on a pedestrian 40 percent of their field goal attempts.
Miller began the game by scoring PBU's first 13 of 21 points, but helplessly watched as Keystone nonetheless somehow managed to build a nine point advantage with eight minutes to play in the opening period. After four more Miller points and a trey from sophomore Jared Wilcox with 3:21 remaining, the Crimson Eagles crawled back within one at 31-30. In somewhat of a "bend but not break" mentality, the Giants responded with eight straight points over the subsequent two minutes - which were negated only by a Tom Arthur layup moments before the half expired - to go into the break with a 39-32 advantage.
The beginning of the second period would see PBU keep Keystone's edge to within eight during the first five minutes of play, but things would quickly go south for the Crimson Eagles following four consecutive misses for PBU and three straight buckets for Keystone.
Taking full advantage of a struggling Crimson Eagle offense, the Giants expanded their lead to as big as 21 with 4:33 remaining. Tom Arthur's eight points down the stretch - including a thunderous break away dunk - wouldn't be enough as the visitors would hold on for a resounding 18 point victory, their 13th of the season.
After averaging roughly six points a game through his first 11 contests to start the year, Miller has kicked up his offensive production as of late, averaging 18.5 points/game over PBU's last four outings and scoring 20-plus points on three occasions. Miller ended Wednesday's contest with an even 20 points while snagging eight boards and dishing out four dimes in 33 minutes of work. Junior Tom Arthur also managed to score 20-plus points for the ninth time this season, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots. Senior captain Otis Caston had a career high five assists to go with four boards while junior forward Ben Fuller chipped in with six points and four rebounds.
PBU falls to 3-19 overall (3-11 NEAC) with the loss while Keystone improves to 13-10 (8-4 NEAC).
The Crimson Eagles will play two days from now in a nonconference showdown with Lancaster Bible College (3-19), a squad that nearly upset PBU in their only meeting last season. The Crimson Eagles will go head-to-head with the Charges in the Mason Activity Center on Friday at 8:00 pm in the team's regular season finale.
