Monaca, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball Team (6-3, 1-0) officially started their Penn State University Athletic Conference title defense on Tuesday as they beat Penn State Beaver (1-5, 0-1) 80-72. PSUGA not only picked up their first conference win, but saw history being made as Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon HS) and Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) each reached career milestones.
Newby put up a season high 29 points resulting in him going over the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career combined between PSUGA and CCBC. Newby entered the night needing just 24 points to be able to reach the mark and he got it in the fourth quarter with a little under five minutes left in the game.
Khari Hicks got his milestone much earlier as he needed one assist to tie the PSUGA record for career assists. Hicks not only tied the record but broke the record in the first half picking up two assists and making him the all-time assist leader in school history. He would finish the day with six total assists as he tries to add onto his record as the season moves forward.
This game came all the way down to the wire as PSUGA would pull ahead and Beaver would answer right back. PSUGA was rolling before halftime leading 27-18 with 5:54 to go in the first half. However, Beaver would go on a 13-0 run to take the lead 31-27 with 1:44 to go in the half. PSUGA would be able to retake the lead before halftime as Curtis Newby and Makis Rivera (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) were each able to make a layup sending the teams to the locker room with PSUGA leading 35-34.
The two teams would trade blows throughout the second half making the score PSUGA 68, Beaver 66 with 2:56 remaining in the game. PSUGA would extend their lead to seven with under a minute to play before Khari Hicks sealed the deal by making a free throw and then collecting his own rebound on a missed free throw and capitalizing.
Curtis Newby led the team with both 29 points and 14 rebounds in the contest picking up another double-double on the season. He now has six double-doubles through the first nine games and is getting the job done under the net. Khari Hicks led the team with six assists on the day as he continues to rack up assists on the year.
PSUGA won the PSUAC last season going 14-2 in conference play and are off to another good start to conference play this season. They showed the ability to play in a close game as they survived several offensive runs by Beaver to hold on for the victory.
PSUGA continues their conference play this weekend as they have two more PSUAC matchups. On Friday, they take on Penn State Schuylkill at 8 p.m. and conclude the weekend with a matchup against Penn State Hazleton on Saturday at 3 p.m.
