Payne/Newby Honored by USCAA
The PSUGA Men's Basketball Team had two award winners at the annual USCAA National Tournament Banquet. Jordan Payne was named first team All-American and Curtis Newby was named 2nd Team All-American
Lamont Furnace, Pa. – The United States Collegiate Athletic Association released its annual All-American Awards at Tuesday’s USCAA National Tournament Banquet. The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball Team had two players honored by the USCAA for their play this season.
Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) was named a USCAA First Team All-American and Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon HS) was named a USCAA Second Team All-American. Newby is receiving the award for the second straight season while Payne is a first time All-American Award winner.
Payne had his best offensive season of his career in 2017/2018 finishing fourth in the Penn State University Athletic Conference in points per game, 19.7, and first in three-point shooting percentage, 44.0. Payne enters the National Tournament just 29 points away from breaking the all-time scoring record at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Newby has been a consistent force for PSUGA since transferring over from Butler County Community College in the 2014/2015 season. He finished the season tied for the PSUAC lead in rebounds per game with 10.0 while leading the Conference in total rebounds with 259. Newby also stepped up on the offensive side of the ball finishing second on the team averaging 11.9 PPG.
The 2017/2018 season marks the second straight season that PSUGA has been involved in the USCAA National Tournament and the second straight season that they have had at least one player be named to the All-American list. Last season, Newby was the only honoree from the Men’s Basketball team when he was named a USCAA Second Team All-American.
The USCAA National Tournament kicks off today with the first-round matchups between #8 PSU-Wilkes Barre and #9 Vermont Tech at 6 p.m. and #10 PSU-Fayette vs. #7 Warren Wilson College at 8 p.m. PSUGA gets a first-round bye before starting their tournament play on Thursday at 12 p.m. when they face #3 Villa Maria.
You can follow along with all the USCAA National Tournament action on all of our social media channels and watch the action live at bit.ly/GAVM18.