Greater Allegheny Men's Basketball Drops First Game of the 2014-15 Season over Apprentice

McKeesport, Pa. - In the championship game of the 2014 Penn State Greater Allegheny Tip-Off Tournament, Apprentice outweighed Greater Allegheny 93-78, notching GA's first loss of the season.

Apprentice came out-of-the-gate hot as they quickly got onto the board. Freshman guard Khari Hicks (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian) marked a jumper to get Greater Allegheny on the board before senior forward Petrie Addison (Fort Myers, Fla./Florida Christian) dumped on a three-pointer and three free-throws to bring the score to 10-8 Apprentice. 

Apprentice continued to pull away while Hicks added two and junior guard Chris Dixon (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) added a three-pointer. Freshman forward Tony Patterson-Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Roxborough) achieved two free-throws as Hicks added four with less than nine minutes to play before halftime. Addison muscled on completed seven points as Hicks put on a layup.

Sophomore forward Carl London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) raised the level of Wunderley Gymnasium, as he polished off two trey's to advance Greater Allegheny and close the gap between the two teams, 45-35, with less than five minutes before halftime. Sophomore guard Denzel Boyer-London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) increased GA by four as Addison and London contributed to the Greater Allegheny offense, placing Greater Allegheny in the backseat to start the second half, 53-44.

London and Addison contributed two points apiece before Dixon answered with another three. Addison had another jumpshot as Dixon and freshman guard Antonio Lucic-Jozak (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) knocked down a pair of crucial three-pointers, inching Greater Allegheny closer to the away team, 67-59.

Addison continued the drive as he placed a layup and a three-pointer, bringing the tally to 69-64 with just eleven minutes remaining in regulation. Dixon had another trey all the while Addison posts a jumper, putting GA to a five point deficit. Addison completed both free-throws attempted before Boyer-London capped off a three-pointer with five minutes. Addison hit another three before Lucic-Jozak scored the last point with a free-throw, Greater Allegheny behind Apprentice, 93-78.

As a team, Greater Allegheny completed 41.4% of the three-pointers taken alongside going 12-for-19 (63.2%) from the free-throw line. The men capitalized on 12 points on turnovers and 19 points in the paint. 

Addison finished the game with 32 points and 13 rebounds, his third double-double of the season. The forward went 8-for-12 from the free-throw line while going 10-for-16 on the floor. Dixon completed four-three's to bring his points tally to 12, grabbing seven rebounds. Boyer-London dished out eleven assists, seven points and three rebounds to complete the game. 

With their first loss off the table, Greater Allegheny will take a few days off to recooperate. The men will travel with the women to Southern State Community College, this weekend, for a Tip-Off Tournament. Game times for Friday and Saturday are yet to be announced.