McMunn with Buzzer-Beater to Land Lion Men's Basketball 92-89 PSUAC Victory over Schuylkill

McKeesport, Pa. - Despite a nail-biter of a second-half, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team overcame Penn State University Athletic Conference rival, Penn State Schuylkill, Friday night, with a buzzer-beater by a tally of 92-89.

Junior guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) nailed the first points of the game outside the arc, 3-0 GA. Sophomore forward George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) laid on points in the paint as junior forward Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) matched him, 7-4.

Prota put up a layup before marking two points from the foul line. McMunn hammered another three-pointer before Newby and junior guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) both knocked down jumpers. Senior guard Moe Alli (Edison, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) sustained a three-pointer before senior forward Jumanne Butler-McDaniel (Franklin, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) added points from the foul line. Freshman guard Connor Paoletti (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) knocked down a three-pointer before adding two free-throws to extend the lead 27-16 GA. Sophomore guard Juwan Ledbetter (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) surged with two three's himself, as Newby split them with a jumper, 35-28.

Butler-McDaniel put up two buckets himself before McMunn slammed another three, 42-30 with under four minutes remaining in the first half. Newby strongheld the final minutes of the game with seven points, GA in front at half 49-38.

Prota was the first of the new half to add points in the paint as Schuylkill worked back with three consecutive three-pointers, 51-50 GA. Butler-McDaniel added two free-throws and two layups as Prota connected with points in the paint, 59-54 just over six minutes into the new half of action. 

Nweby and Prota put up six points a piece before McMunn dropped a three-pointer to keep Greater Allegheny in front, 74-70. Newby, Orita, McMunn, Butler-McDaniel and sophomore guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) notched points as the nail-biting continued, 84-82 with just under three minutes remaining in regulation. 

Prota finished a layup as McMunn rode out the remainder of the game. With a layup, a free-throw and a staggering answer of a three-pointer, McMunn solidified the second PSUAC victory of the season over Schuylkill, 92-89 as the clock wound down to zero. 

Newby finished the game with a double-double and team-high in points, 21 with ten rebounds, five steals and a block. McMunn and Prota matched one another with 20 points each as Prota pulled down eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists. McMunn dished out four assists with two steals and a rebound.

As a team, Greater Allegheny was out-rebounded 45-40 as the home team notched 75% (9-of-12) of their shots from the foul line with 47.4% (37-of-78) and (9-of-19) from the floor and three-point line, respectively. The Lions netted 46 points in the paint alongside 23 points off turnovers and 15 points off fastbreak.

Greater Allegheny (6-2, 2-0 PSUAC) looks forward to hosting another PSUAC adversary, Saturday afternoon, as Penn State Hazleton comes to Wunderley Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.