McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team (1-0, 0-0) flexed their offensive muscles in their season opener picking up a 120-92 win over Butler County CC (0-1, 0-0). The 120 point outburst broke the single game team point record that was set January 20th of last year in a double overtime game against Penn State Brandywine.
This one was close early on as Butler County Community College found themselves ahead in the early part of the first half holding a slight 11-10 lead. However, PSUGA was just getting warmed up going on an 11-2 to jump out to a 26-14 lead halfway through the first half. The Pioneers kept fighting but PSUGA kept scoring as Kenny Rouse (Duquesne, PA./West Mifflin HS) and Jordon Payne (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) both contributed big with 12 first half points apiece.
PSUGA found themselves ahead 56-42 in the waning seconds of the first half and Eronn Hammond (Pittsburgh, PA./University Prep) would send the team into the locker room on a jump shot that gave his team a 58-42 advantage. The PSUGA bench played big in the first half contributing 24 of the team’s 58 points combined between Hammond and six different players.
PSUGA had their biggest offensive half in the second half scoring 62 points en route to the win. Rouse would accomplish a feat that hasn’t been done at PSUGA for the last couple years completing a triple double. He finished the day with 22 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds in the win marking the first triple-double of his collegiate career at either PSU-New Kensington or PSUGA.
The night would end with PSUGA’s reserve players getting a chance to shine They performed well and helped keep the offense going with Markel Sayles (Pittsburgh, PA./Perry HS) scoring 12 points and Evan Miller (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice) and Cordelle Swinson (Philadelphia, PA./Franklin Towne HS) adding two points apiece to complete the 120-92 win.
Payne led the way offensively with 29 points on the day finishing just ahead of Rouse’s 22 point effort. In total, four PSUGA players finished in double digits in the win. Rouse also led the way with his 12 rebounds and 10 assists. George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward HS) finished with six rebounds on the day and Colby Hall (Hopewell, VA./Dinwiddie HS) finished with five assists.
The win marks the third straight year that PSUGA has won their season opener and the second in a row that they have done it against Butler County CC. They started 2017-2018 winning their first five games of the season. This season, they would like to be able to get out to that same good start as they chase their fourth straight Penn State University Athletic Conference playoff spot.
The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team is back in action on Friday when they face CCAC-Boyce on Friday November 9th at 8 p.m. They will play in the second half of a double header as they host a USCAA Tip-off Tournament.