McKeesport, Pa. - Despite being tied at the half, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team overcame Penn State Worthington-Scranton, Friday night, in a solid 86-70 Penn State University Athletic Conference battle.
Greater Allegheny was first on the board with a made jumper by sophomore guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) followed by points in the paint by sophomore guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills). Worthington-Scranton swelled to 11 before sophomore forward Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) dropped a jumper. Senior guard Jashaun Fontanez (Downingtown, Pa./Dowingtown West) hammered a three-pointer to give the Greater Allegheny offense a much needed boost.
Junior guard Moe Alli (Edison, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) made points in the paint as Hicks brought the game within one with a good jumper, 14-13. Junior forward Jumanne Butler-McDaniel (Somerset, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) four as Hicks added a layup. Fontanez banked points ouside the arc as the clock wound down within five before halftime.
Newby and Fontanez put up two a piece as sophomore guard Denzel Boyer-London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) slashed a layup to take the lead, 28-27. Butler-McDaniel wrapped up a three-pointer along with two from the foul line, sending the two teams into the break at a 33 all stand-still.
Freshman guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) contributed a pair of three-pointers as Fontanez put up a trey and a jumper, tying the game back at 44. Butler-McDaniel made a layup to take the lead 46-44 before Fontanez ignited the crowd with a trio of three-pointers and two from the foul line, 57-49.
Freshman forward Scott Przybysz (Elderton, Pa./West Shamokin) denoted two from the foul line to move GA in front by ten as Hicks and Newby each dropped four while Przybysz laid on points in the paint, 66-59. Hicks elongated Greater Allegheny's lead over WS with a made three-pointer. Alli finished a layup and one as Hicks continued with four points from the paint.
Boyer-London completed a layup while Moe and McMunn tacked on points from the foul line. Freshman center Brannon Murphy (Pittsburgh, Pa./University Prep) put up the final points for the GA offense with a layup, finishing Worthington-Scranton at a 86-70 showout.
WS leading scorer put up 30 points and 16 rebounds through the 35 minutes of action, while pushing a double-double in the first half.
Fontanez erupted with 24 points and six made three-pointers, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out two assists. On his 21st birthday, Hicks drained 17 points with six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Butler-McDaniel came off the bench for 11 points and five rebounds while Alli gripped up ten rebounds and six points.
As a team, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Lions shot 76.9% (10-of-13) from the foul line and 43.4% (33-of-76) with a total of ten three-pointers through the contest. GA out-rebounded the PSUAC nemesis, 49-40 while cashing in 20 points off their 19 turnovers. The men put up 44 points in the paint, 21 points off second-chance and 27 points off the bench.
Greater Allegheny (9-8, 7-1 PSUAC) continues on their jet-setting season as they look foward to hosting Penn State Wilkes-Barre for another Penn State University Athletic Conference battle. The stand-off is set for tip-off at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
