Tenth of the Season for Greater Allegheny Men's Hoops over Wilkes-Barre, 66-58

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. - In the first game of the new year, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team positioned their tenth win of the season, and fourth in the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC), with the 66-58 triumph over Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Friday night.

Wilkes-Barre jumped out five points ahead before senior forward Jumanne Butler-McDaniel (Franklin, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) hammered down a three-pointer. Junior guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) and junior guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) hit back-to-back treys to bring the game to a 10-9 WB lead four minutes into the first half.

Butler-McDaniel and junior guard Denzel Boyer-London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) both added points as Wilkes-Barre surged to 21-13 over the Lions. Junior forward Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) added four points straight as Hicks, sophomore forward George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) and sophomore guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) all hit jumpers, 29-23 WB.

Newby collected five while Payne and Prota both contributed to elevate GA six. Butler-McDaniel finished off the second-half with a pair of completed layups, 38-36 Greater Allegheny.

Wilkes-Barre opened the second half with seven straight points before Prota broke the Lions silence with a good jumper. Senior guard Moe Alli (Edison, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) hammered down back-to-back threes to put GA back on top, 46-43. Alli and Newby put up points from the foul line as Prota added six, split by a Payne jumper.

Newby swished free-throws as Butler-McDaniel, Prota and Newby all hit jumpers. Payne completed the game in regulation after two points from the foul line, 66-58 Greater Allegheny. 

Prota worked for 16 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal as Newby added 14 points, seven boards and a block. Butler-McDaniel put up 11 points with two assists as Payne came off the bench for eight points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. 

As a team, Greater Allegheny was out-rebounded 39-36 as the team shot 39.4% (26-of-66) from the floor with 47.4% (9-of-19) from the free-throw line. The Lions added 16 points on turnovers, 14 points in the paint and eight points off second-chance.

Greater Allegheny (10-4, 4-1 PSUAC) moves onto Saturday at Penn State Worthington-Scranton to continue their PSUAC weekend. The men are set to tip-off after the women, around 3 p.m.