McKeesport, PA. – Shots were not falling for the Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team (4-3, 1-3) on Wednesday as they dropped their third straight game to Penn State Mont Alto (6-2, 3-1) 67-54. After defense ruled the first half, PSUGA was unable to climb out of the hole and get back to their winning ways.
Defense ruled the first half of the game with neither team scoring more than 20 points over the first 17 minutes of play. PSU-Mont Alto used the three-ball to get out in front with each of their first four field goals being from beyond the arc putting themselves ahead 12-8 with just under 13 minutes left before halftime.
PSUGA would get back into it making the score as close as 14-12 before PSU-Mont Alto would go on another 6-2 run to bring the score to 20-14 with 3:45 to go. PSUGA brought it back to 20-17 on a three-pointer by Eronn Hammond (Pittsburgh, Pa./University Prep). Mont Alto scored the final six points of the quarter and headed into the locker room with a 26-17 lead.
While PSUGA’s defense played well, they were still struggling to find their offensive fire power. They had three different players with three first half points to lead the offense while four players had two points to round out the scoring. PSUGA was looking for the offense to step up and pull them out of a hole in the second half.
The offense performed better in the second half scoring the first six points of the half to bring the deficit to 26-23. They crept closer making it 32-30 with 14 minutes left on the game clock, but PSU-Mont Alto would once again pull away going a 6-0 run just two minutes later that put the game out of reach for good and gave Mont Alto the victory.
Jordon Payne (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) led the way once again putting up 15 points in the game while Koran Flemming (Wilkinsburg, PA./Westinghouse HS) finished with 10 points in the game. Flemming also led the day with seven rebounds while Kenny Rouse (Duquesne, PA./West Mifflin) had a team high four assists in the game.
PSUGA now sits at 1-3 in Penn State University Athletic Conference play and is looking for a way to break out of their current slump. With two more games remaining before the Christmas break, PSUGA will try to find a way to get their once potent offense going again as they chase a possible fourth straight playoff appearance.
PSUGA is back in action on Friday when they face Villa Maria in non-conference action at 8 p.m. as part of the second half of a Men’s and Women’s Basketball doubleheader.