McKeesport, PA. - After trailing by two points at halftime, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Men's Basketball team (8-3, 4-2) used a second half offensive push to lead them over Penn State Shenango (3-7, 3-3) 65-57. It was the team's third straight Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) win and kept them in second place in the PSUAC West Division standings.
It was a back and forth game throughout the first half as the teams battled to a 16-16 score over the first ten minutes of play. Makis Rivera (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) would give PSUGA the slight advantage hitting two buckets and giving his team a 20-16 lead with 8:15 left before halftime.
However, Shenango battled back outscoring PSUGA 14-9 over the final eight minutes and PSUGA went into the locker room trailing 31-29. PSUGA needed a spark to help them put away a surging PSU-Shenango team.
They would get just that in the second half, scoring the first 15 points to give them a 43-31 lead. Markel Sayles (Pittsburgh, PA./Perry HS) led the charge with six of the 15 points and helped PSUGA to their biggest run of the day.
Shenango would not go down without a fight getting the score as close as 58-54 with 1:14 to play, but PSUGA would finish the night 7-8 from the free throw line as they clinched the 65-57 win.
It was another big day for Joe Charlton (Pittsburgh, Pa./University Prep) who picked up his third straight double-double leading the way with 14 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Koran Fleming (Wilkinsburg, PA./Westinghouse HS) added 14 points while Rivera scored 12 points in the win. PSUGA had four players finish in double digits as they picked up their third straight victory.
With one more PSUAC game before break, PSUGA has themselves in good position for their fifth consecutive playoff run. They currently sit in second place in the PSUAC West Division, just two games behind PSU-Mont Alto for the top spot.
The PSUGA Men's Basketball team returns to action when they take on PSU-Beaver on Friday at 8 p.m.