McKeesport, Pa. – On a night where they honored the six seniors that have made the program a championship team, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team (15-6, 12-5) officially clinched their fourth straight trip to the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs with a 106-78 win over Penn State New Kensington (7-14, 3-12). The seniors led the offense all day long fueling the fourth straight playoff run a run they started their freshmen seasons.
Senior Jordan Ownes (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice HS) got things started with a bang hitting a three from the left corner that got the offense off and running. PSUGA would go on to score 15 of the first 17 points in the game and held a 15-2 lead six minutes into the game. After New Kensington got to within eight points, PSUGA went off again on another 7-2 run that brought the score to 30-19 with 8:30 minutes to play.
PSUGA just kept racking up the points on their way to a 56-point first half and headed into the locker room leading 56-39. Senior Jordon Payne (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) fueled the offense as he has been for the past four years putting up 13 of his team leading 16 points in the first half. The offense was just getting started, as PSUGA was on it’s way to their fifth 100 point effort this season.
It was another one of PSUGA’s seniors Mhonte Newsome (Baltimore, MD//Our Lady of Mount Carmel) took the reigns in the second half putting up 13 of his team leading 17 points. New Kensington battled throughout the second half but couldn’t get within 20 points of PSUGA sealing the win on a big day for this senior class. While they still have two more regular season home games it was a chance for their friends and family to come out and celebrate their accomplishments.
Newsome and Payne led the way with 17 and 16 points respectively helping their team pick up their 15th win of the season. In total, five different PSUGA players finished in double digits including George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward HS) who picked up a double-double with a team leading 11 rebounds and 10 points.
The win clinches PSUGA their fourth consecutive playoff berth and gives them a chance to clinch a first round home playoff game on Tuesday against PSU-Shenango. PSUGA made the 2017-2018 playoffs as the #1 seed a season ago before being eliminated by PSU-Wilkes Barre in the second round. This year, they are looking for a lengthy playoff run and their fourth PSUAC Championship in program history.
PSUGA returns to action with a big match-up on Tuesday night when they invite in Penn State Shenango. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.