McKeesport, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball Team (10-4, 7-3) take their six game winning streak on the road on Friday when they take on Penn State York (12-4, 7-3). Coming off of two player of the week awards last week, senior Jordon Payne (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) will look to lead his team into their lone match-up of the weekend as they try to keep their season high six game winning streak alive.
PSUGA extended that win streak to six in a monster game against PSU-Scranton where they won handedly 117-83. PSUGA would score a season high 61 first-half points led by eight three-pointers from Payne. With his team up 61-43 and the NCAA Single Game Three-Point record in sight, Payne just kept shooting and trying to find opportunities to score throughout the game.
He would finish just one three-pointer shy of tying the record finishing with 14, and his team would score a combined 56 points in the second half to pick up the win. Despite falling short of the NCAA three-point record, Payne did break the single-game scoring record at PSUGA finishing the night with 45 points. He was one of three PSUGA players to finish in double digits with Makis Rivera (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) and Koran Flemming (Wilkinsburg, PA./Westinghouse HS) each finishing with 13.
The win kept PSUGA on the roll they have been on throughout 2019, where they have gone a perfect 5-0. After starting conference play at just 1-3 and sitting in fifth place in the Penn State University Athletic Conference West Division, PSUGA has roared back into the playoff race and currently sit in second place in the division a half game behind top seeded PSU-Mont Alto as they eye their fourth straight trip to the PSUAC tournament.
PSU-York has put together a fine stretch of their own going 4-1 over their last five games. Last time out was a bounce back effort where they defeated PSU-Schuylkill 70-59 last Friday night. Justin Luton led York with 14 points and was one of three York players to finish the night in double-digits.
In eight previous match-ups between these two teams, it has been York that has had the advantage with a record of 6-2 against PSUGA. Last season, it was PSUGA who got the advantage picking up a 102-75 win in a crucial game late in the season. Payne had a big night off the bench in that one leading the team with 38 points and was one of two players to finish with 20 or more coming off the bench.
Tip-off for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be the second half of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader at Penn State York.
