Buzzer-Beating Three-Pointer Lands GA Men's Basketball 69-66 PSUAC Triumph

McKeesport, Pa. - As the clock wound down to zero, freshman guard Denzel London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) knocked down a clutch three-point shot to send the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team to a 69-66 PSUAC victory over Penn College.

Penn College swelled to a 9-2 lead within the first three minutes of play. Junior guard Petrie Addison (Palm Bay, Fla./Florida Christian) completed a three-pointer before he slashed a lay-up. Senior forward Aaron Byrd (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise) tied the game at nine before Addison zoomed down the court and laid a dunk on Penn College's defense.

PC battled back before Addison and Byrd dropped jump shots toward GA. D. London made his presence known, as he knocked down a lay-up before he obtained a three-pointer for GA, 20-17. Addison added four more before Byrd contributed a lay-up to boost the lead to seven. Sophomore guard Chris Dixon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Steel Valley) opened the flood gates as he nailed his first three-pointer before Adison answered with another three. The GA run continued on as Dixon clobbered another trey and Addison dropped a lay-up and one free-throw, lifting GA 38-24.

To close the first half, Byrd was given a shot at two free-throws. After the first one was completed, Byrd was honored by joining the 1,000th career point mark for Penn State Greater Allegheny. Byrd joins three other PSUGA hoopers that previously marked 1,000 points for their squad. His two free-throws completed sent the game into halftime, GA leading 40-26.

Byrd added five within the first three minutes of the second half before senior forward Nick Dizon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) deposited a lay-up. Freshman guard Eric Moody (Philadelphia, Pa./New Media Technology Charter) dropped a trey to widen the lead to 17.

Penn College fought back as they managed to score eight consecutive points. Addison, Dizon and D. London all notched points to bring the lead within eleven, 59-48. Moody and Byrd matched one another with back-to-back jump shots. PC allowed just one GA point over the course of four minutes, as PC began their fight back. Addison nailed a jumper to bring the game to 66-62 with just 2:30 to go in the game.

PC made a free-throw and a clutch three-pointer to bring the game to a 66-66 tie with just 14 seconds to play. The fear of overtime set in as a time-out was called by the home team. A quick drive down the court led to a long three-point shot lofted into the air by Denzel. As the buzzer alarmed that the time has expired, D. Londons airborne shot finds its way through the netting, closing regulation in a 69-66 triumph.

Addison closed the game by shooting 45.5% (10-of-22) from the floor, alongside dumping 60% (3-of-5) from the free-throw line and 40% (2-of-5) of his three-pointers attempted. The 6-6 guard dropped 25 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to assist his team in the takeover.

Byrd bucketed 50% (7-of-14) of his shots taken from the floor as well as 57.1% (4-of-7) of free-throw attempts. The senior forward dumped 19 points and boarded nine rebounds. D. London managed to close the game with 11 points, two assists and two steals.

As a team, Greater Allegheny checked off on 39.7% (27-of-68) of shots taken from the floor. GA turned 14 Penn College turnovers into 17 points on the board. The team banked 22 points in the paint as the bench accounted for 17 points.

The men next host another Penn State University Athletic Conference match-up on Monday, as Greater Allegheny welcomes a double-header with Penn State Beaver. The men look to tip-off at 8 p.m.