URBANA, Ohio (January 31, 2009) - Free throw shooting often makes the difference in a close game and playing on the road Saturday afternoon, Lake Erie College reaped the benefit of the line, scoring 30 of its 51 second-half points from the spot in order to earn an 86-79 victory against Urbana University. Even more impressive was the fact the Storm hit 14-of-17 attempts from the line within the final three and half minutes to push its one-point lead to seven to finish out the game.

Heading into the contest, Lake Erie had only shot more than 30 free throws in a game on three occasions, but never made more than 76-percent. Tonight the green and white was on, making 81-percent in a 35-for-43 showing, which truly made the difference considering the host Blue Knights hit six more field goals.

In the first half, Lake Erie went ahead in the beginning by as many as four, before Urbana took an 11-point lead at 19-8 at the 12-minute mark. Lake Erie fought back, going on a 14-2 run over a five and a half minute span to go up one, 22-21 at 6:31. The score was then tied three times, before Lake Erie headed into the break with a three-point advantage at 35-32.

In the second half, the Storm held the lead until just under 15 minutes. Urbana crept by, but never by more than five. From the 13-minute mark until just under five minutes to go, no team ever led by more than three. Urbana then got to within one point at 68-67 with 3:40 remaining. Lake Erie went 2-for-2 from the field in the remaining time, scoring the rest of its points from the stripe.

Four Lake Erie players scored in double figures, including senior Derrick Thornton (University Heights, Ohio/Lutheran East) with a team-high 23. Senior John Dickinson (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) poured in a career-high 19 and senior Rick Leasure (Concord, Ohio/Concord) had 18 followed by senior Matt Moore (Fredericktown, Ohio/Fredericktown) with 13. Thornton grabbed six rebounds and sophomore Ethan Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio/Harmony Prep) had four assists.

Lake Erie (6-15) remains on the road to take on NCAA Division I South Dakota on Monday at 7 p.m.