McKeesport, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team (14-5, 11-5) battled all night long and picked up a big 83-68 win over Penn State Beaver (12-8, 8-6) on Wednesday night. The win inched them one game closer to clinching a playoff spot and a win on Saturday would take them to the tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Beaver took charge early in the game jumping out to a 7-3 lead over the first three minutes of the game. PSUGA would respond with a 10-2 run of their own that gave them their first lead of the day 13-9. The two teams battled through the next four minutes and came out of it tied 17-17 with eight minutes to go.
It was a back and forth battle throughout the remaining eight minutes of the half and PSUGA would come out of it with a slight 34-27 advantage as the teams broke for the locker room. Koran Fleming (Wilkinsburg, PA./Westinghouse HS) continued his recent string of success coming off being named United States Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball player of the week by putting up 15 in the first half to lead the way.
Separate runs of 6-0 and 5-2 extended the lead to 45-33 with 15 minutes to play. They extended the lead to as much as 51-38 and their defense took over from there fending off any comeback try from PSU-Beaver. They came as close as nine points away from PSUGA with two minutes to go, but PSUGA was able to 10-12 from the free throw line over the final two minutes of play to seal the 83-68 victory.
Fleming once again led the way for PSUGA racking up a team high 22 points on the day to go along with two assists and three rebounds. Teammate Kenny Rouse (West Mifflin, PA./West Mifflin HS) had a big day in his first full game since being injured earlier in the season finishing with 16 points while leading the team with eight rebounds.
The win moves PSUGA to 11-5 in conference play and gives them another game up on PSU-Beaver. PSUGA is still clinging to the #2 spot in the PSUAC West Division and a win on Saturday against PSU-New Kensington would send them to the PSUAC playoff tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
Tip-off for Saturday’s match-up with PSU-New Kensington is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be the second half of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader.