Lion Basketball Win Streak Snapped at D-II Cal U (Pa.), 92-59
California, Pa. - With a four-game hot-streak, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team fell to NCAA Division II California University of Pa., Sunday afternoon, by the tally of 92-59.
California, Pa. - With a four-game hot-streak, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team fell to NCAA Division II California University of Pa., Sunday afternoon, by the tally of 92-59.
Cal took the lead from the first bucket and didn't look back from there. Sophomore guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) made a jumper as Cal swelled to 15-2 just over three minutes into the game. Freshman guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) hammered down a three-pointer to break the Lion silence before senior guard Jashaun Fontanez (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) laid on points in the paint.
Payne managed another three-pointer as sophomore forward Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) completed a jumper as well as two points from the foul line, 27-14 Cal. Newby cashed in for a layup as Hicks dropped a jumper, 32-18 with seven minutes until halftime. Sophomore guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) laid on three outside the arc before Payne made a layup as the clock wound down to less than three. McMunn nailed down another three to send the two teams into the break, 47-26 Vulcans.
Freshman guard Tyrone Johnson (Hampstead, Md./North Carroll) flushed a jumper and freshman forward Scott Przybysz (Elderton, Pa./West Shamokin) made a layup while Payne knocked down a pair of three-pointers, bringing the game within 20 points with nine minutes left to play. Newby went on a six-point streak as Przybysz added four himself. Johnson rode out the remainder of the game with four points knocked down, GA falling to the Division II nemesis, 92-59.
Payne contributed 14 points with four made three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and four steals. Newby also had 14 points with eight boards and two steals. McMunn came off-the-bench with 11 points, three steals and two rebounds.
GA was out-rebounded 48-27 through the game, coughing up 17 turnovers. GA capitalized on Cal U's 27 turnovers, cashing in for 25 points. The Lions added 24 points in the paint with 12 points on second-chance.
As a team, Greater Allegheny dropped 25 buckets from the floor with 50% (3-of-6) from the foul line.
The men, who are now 7-7 and 5-0 PSUAC, take a few day break before they jump back into Penn State University Athletic Conference action. Both the women and men travel to Penn State Fayette, Wednesday evening, as the men are set to tip-off at 8 p.m.