Youngwood, Pa. - Four of the starting five athletes on the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team notched double digits as the Lions overturned the Westmoreland County Community College Wolves for their first win of the season, 82-75.
Greater Allegheny found themselves in a 12-3 hole four minutes into the game. Sophomore guard Chris Dixon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Steel Valley) hammered out two huge three-pointers to close the gap to only three. Senior forward Nick Dizon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) slashed the deficit to one as he got up for the lay-up, just two minutes after the Lions were trailing by 9. That would be the largest lead the Lion defense would allow the remainder of the game.
Dixon and Dizon linked up for five more to tie the game at 16. From there, it was Greater Allegheny's show. Senior forward Aaron Byrd (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise) notched a pair of jumpers alongside a set of lay-up's from Dizon to swell the GA lead to 27-21. Freshman forward Carl London (Easton, Pa./Coatesville) opened up the gates and hit a clutch three-pointer to inch the Lions closer. Sophomore guard Jordan Zeer (Victoria, British Columbia/New Westminster) achieved a lay-up followed by a three-pointer from junior guard Petrie Addison (Fort Myers, Fla./Florida Christian) before WCCC got two off of a foul.
Addison, Byrd and Dizon contributed the last nine points to send the game into halftime with the Lions up, 44-34. Greater Allegheny shot 53.1% (17-32) from the floor through the first half, contributing to the lead.
The second half started slow as WCCC held GA to a quiet four points as they gained 14 to tie the game at 48. Addison and Byrd made additions to the back-and-forth action as they found themselves tied at 54 just a short seven minutes into the second half.
Addison notched 13 of the next 28 points to boost Greater Allegheny's offensive drive, while Byrd, Dixon and Dizon comprised of the other 13 points. Zeer capped off the game with a pair of free throw's, bringing the tally to 82-75.
Four Lion athletes posted double-digits to lift Greater Allegheny to their first win of the season. Both Addison and Byrd notched double-double's to lead GA to their win; Addison with 27 points and 10 rebounds, Byrd with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Both athletes, alongside Dizon, went 7-for-13 from the floor. Byrd cashed in on 5-of-7 free throws as Addison achieved 11-of-15. The team finished with 67.9% (19-28) free throws made and 51.9% (28-54) field goals made.
Greater Allegheny hope to keep their momentum rolling, as the men are set to tip-off with Penn State Fayette Tuesday night. Game-time is set for 8 p.m. in Wunderley Gymnasium.
