McKeesport, Pa. - Through a back-and-forth contest, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team swiped a narrow Penn State University Athletic Conference triumph, Friday night, over Penn State New Kensington, by a margin of 82-77.
Senior forward Jumanne Butler-McDaniel (Franklin, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) was the first on the board for GA from the foul line before junior forward Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) dropped a jumper. Sophomore guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) hammered down a three-pointer before Newby put up two more points, New Kensington up a staggering 20-8.
Newby added points in the paint before sophomore guard Juwan Ledbetter (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) put up a jumper and a three. Junior guard Denzel Boyer-London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) laid down a matching three-pointer, 23-18. Newby and junior guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy), 23-22 NK.
Boyer-London himself took the lead over the away team with a layup and a three-pointer. Sophomore forward George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) added a layup, 29-25 GA. Newby slashed a free-throw as junior guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) tied the game at 33 with a good trey. Newby and freshman guard Connor Paoletti (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) downed layups before McMunn finished the half from the foul line, Greater Allegheny trailing New Ken, 42-39.
McMunn and Butler-McDaniel added points from the foul line as Payne and Prota marked two each, 45-44 GA. Payne drained two from the foul line as Prota put up two, Payne finishing a trey 52-46. Butler-McDaniel contributed four points as senior guard Moe Alli (Edison, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) and Newby dropped points in the paint. The two teams continued to battle as Hicks hammered down a three-pointer and Moe added a layup, 65-60 GA with just ten minutes remaining in regulation.
Hicks dropped two more as Boyer-London zipped down with a fast break, 69-63 GA. Prota added a free-throw as Newby and McMunn both put up points in the paint. Hicks dropped a jumper as Newby placed points, 78-75 with just over a minute remaining. McMunn finished the game from the foul line with four, Greater Allegheny taking the win 82-77.
Newby dropped a double-double with 17 points, twelve rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Prota pulled down eleven rebounds, seven points, four blocks and one assist as Payne added 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. McMunn hit 87.5% (7-of-8) from the foul line for 12 points, two rebounds, one assist and a block.
As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded New Kensington 48-40 as the men added 72.2% (13-of-18) from the foul line as they put up 39.7% (31-of-78) from the floor. The Lions managed 47 points in the paint, 21 points off second-chance and 13 points off turnovers.
Greater Allegheny (18-5, 12-2 PSUAC) hosts their final Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) of the season as Penn State DuBois comes to Wunderley Gymnasium on Tuesday night. Senior night is set before the game - 8 p.m. tip-off.
