MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Mount Union's men's basketball team defeated Penn State Harrisburg 86-78 in their season opener on Saturday evening.

The Purple Raiders (1-0) had three players score in double figures with sophomore Chance Casenhiser (Uniontown / Lake) leading the way with a game and career-high 28 points. Junior Elijah Farrington (Massillon / Massillon Washington) also scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the double-double, while junior Kevin Hamilton (Akron / St. Vincent St. Mary) added 10 points to round out the Raiders in double digits.

The Lions (0-1) were led by Justin Leddo who scored a team-high 23 points and Andre Thomas who added 12.

Mount Union and Penn State Harrisburg would trade baskets over the first 2:53 of game time before an 11-1 Raider run over the next 3:20 of action would give them a 17-7 lead with just over twelve and a half minutes to play in the first half. The Raiders would maintain their lead over the final twelve minutes of the half with the Lions never getting closer than seven over that time period, taking a 42-31 lead into the halftime break.

Penn State Harrisburg would open the second half with a 14-5 run over the first 2:35 to cut the lead down to just two points with just over 17 minutes remaining in the game. Mount Union would answer by outscoring the Lions 15-8 over the next five minutes to push their lead back out to nine with just under twelve minutes to play. The Raiders would maintain their lead over the next seven and a half minutes, with it never growing larger than 13 but the Lions never getting closer than seven. The Lions would make a late push going on an 11-3 run over 2:34 of game time to cut the lead down to five with just 19 seconds remaining in the game, however the Raiders would be able to hang on as they would go on to win 86-78 after scoring the final three points of the game.

The Raiders are back in action again tomorrow as they take on Dickinson to wrap up the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic at 1 p.m.