Schuylkill Haven, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball Team (7-3, 2-0) picked up their second straight Penn State University Athletic Conference win when they took down PSU-Schuylkill (1-6, 0-2) 91-82 on Friday. Their offense got back on track scoring over 90 points for the fifth time in the teams first 10 games of the season.
The offense did take a little while to get started in this one as it was Schuylkill that would jump out to the lead early on. George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) got PSUGA on the board first, but Schuylkill answered scoring the next eight points to make it 8-2. Schuylkill continued to have the upper hand offensively throughout the first half never giving up the lead and heading into the locker room leading 39-37.
PSUGA would come out firing in the second half as they put up the first nine points of the second half to take a 46-39 lead. PSUGA would be the one who kept their foot on the pedal in the second half as they put up 54 points to secure the 91-82 victory. They have now won back-to-back contests to start conference play as they defend their PSUAC title from a season ago.
After having his worst offensive performance of the season when he scored 11 points against Beaver, Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) led the team with 21 points on the day marking the seventh game this season where he has been over the 20-point mark. Payne continues to inch closer to the 1,000-point mark in his PSUGA career as after tonight he needs just 15 points to reach the milestone.
It was a break out game offensively for two other players as George Prota and Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) each put up a season high 16 points in the game. Mhonte Newsome (Baltimore, Md./Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) rounded out the players with career days as he put up 13 points on the day, his PSUGA career high.
Payne and Prota also had a big impact on the defensive side of the ball as they tied for the team lead in rebounds with six. Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) continued to lead the team in assists with six one game after he broke the PSUGA record for assists in a career.
PSUGA’s offense continues to show their ability to put up points and that has been a big part of their game all season long. They are now averaging 90.1 points per game this season and are 4-1 when they score 90 points or more in a game.
PSUGA is back in action tomorrow afternoon as they play their second game of the PSUAC weekend doubleheader when they take on Penn State Hazleton at 3 p.m.
