GA Men's Hoops Slighted by Beaver, 89-73

Monaca, Pa. - Despite the first meeting resulting in a 32-point GA showout, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team fell to Penn State Beaver, Wednesday night, in a crucial 89-73 Penn State University Athletic Conference battle.

Beaver was first on the board before freshman guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) evened the tally with a three-pointer. Beaver then swelled eight before senior guard Jashaun Fontanez (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) laid on four points from the paint, 11-7 Beaver.

Junior guard Moe Alli (Edison, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) added a layup before Payne rained down another three. Sophomore guard Denzel Boyer-London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) denoted a pair from the free-throw line before freshman forward Isaiah Fluker (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) put up a layup, 22-16 home team.

Fluker and sophomore guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) both dropped jumpers before junior guard Jumanne Butler-McDaniel (Somerset, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) put down two from the free-throw line, Beaver ahead a staggering 38-22.

Sophomore guard Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon), Fontanez, Boyer-London and Payne all polished off layups for GA as Newby posted the final point of the first half with a good free-throw, Beaver leading after the first half of action, 43-31.

Sophomore guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) came out into the second half with a made layup alongside a drainer of a three-pointer. Fontanez and McMunn laid on points in the paint before Newby contributed four, 57-42 a little over five minutes into the new half. Alli, Boyer-London and Newby all hashed out points to cut the Beaver lead to seven with 12 minutes remaining in regulation.

Beaver stayed consisted as Boyer-London and Newby placed jumpers. Payne went up for four points as Fontanez and Hicks got on the board, 82-65 with four minutes to go. Fontanez put up points from the foul line as Payne dropped a layup. Freshman guard Derek Pribanic (Jeannette, Pa./Penn-Trafford) put up the final points of the game for GA with a good layup, Beaver coming out on top 89-73.

With just six players getting into the game, four of them scored 20+ points each.

Newby recorded a double-double with 13 points and 15 boards while getting up for three blocks and one steal. Payne posted 14 points with four rebounds, three steals and one assist. Fontanez tallied 13 points as Boyer-London added ten points with three rebounds and two steals.

As a team, Greater Allegheny posted 58.8% (10-of-17) from the foul line while dropping 30 of their shots from the floor. The men drilled 46 points in the paint with 16 points off turnovers and 15 points off second-chance.

The Lions (10-12, 8-5 PSUAC) look to continue Penn State University Athletic Conference action, as the men are set to go on the road with the women's team on Friday to Penn State Hazleton. Tip-off is scheduled after the women, around 8 p.m.