Greater Allegheny Men's Basketball Flexes over Fayette, 84-78
McKeesport, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team made it look easy over Penn Stae Fayette in Wunderley Gymnasium, Tuesday night, as the Penn State University Athletic Conference battle was earned by the home team, 84-78.
McKeesport, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny men's basketball team made it look easy over Penn Stae Fayette in Wunderley Gymnasium, Tuesday night, as the Penn State University Athletic Conference battle was earned by the home team, 84-78.
Greater Allegheny jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead over their rivals, Penn State Fayette, with heavy contributions from sophomore forward George Prota (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward), junior forward Curtis Newby (Sharon, Pa./Sharon) and sophomore guard Jordon Payne (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport). Prota made the next layup before junior guard Jeremy McMunn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) hammered down a three-pointer, 15-5 GA.
McMunn and Newby both laid on points in the paint as Newby continued from the foul line. Senior guard Moe Alli (Edison, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) and Prota added points from the paint as junior guard Khari Hicks (East Hills, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) added a foul shot, 25-16. Payne and Prota continued to contribute before Hicks drained a crucial trey, GA leading 32-18 with four minutes remaining until halftime.
Senior guard Jumanne Butler-McDaniel (Franklin, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) drilled a fastbreak layup leading into a Fayette timeout. Hicks dropped another layup as sophomore guard Juwan Ledbetter (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) added a free-throw point. The two teams went to the break with Greater Allegheny in front, 43-26.
Hicks was first to answer in the new half with a jumper as McMunn silenced the Fayette bench with back-to-back three-pointers, 51-36 GA. Hicks added another jumper before Prota put up points in the paint. McMunn continued from outside the arc with a three as Hicks zipped up with a pair of fastbreak layups, 22 points ahead of the Roaring Lions.
Junior guard Denzel Boyer-London (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) noted a layup as Newby and Alli all added points from the floor, Greater Allegheny still on the swell. Newby noted a duo of fastbreaks to bring the Lions ahead of Fayette, 70-59.
Payne hit a jumper as Hicks drained a three as Fayette worked their way back as the clock wound down under four minutes, GA still ahead 75-68. Prota posted two clutch foul shots as Fayette battled all the way back to within two points, 1:08 on the clock.
Hicks slashed four from the foul line as McMunn finished the final two points of the game from the foul line, Greater Allegheny out in front 84-78.
Newby and Prota both dropped double-doubles in the contest, as Newby put up 16 boards, 13 points, four assists, three steals and three blocks as Prota netted 14 points and ten boards, three blocks and two assists. McMunn rang 17 points with one rebounds and one steal as Hicks came off the bench for 21 points, six boards, six assists, three steals and a block.
As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded Fayette 58-46 as the men completed 53.3% (16-of-30) of their shots from the foul line while 42.5% (31-of-73) of their shots fell from the floor. The Lions managed 42 points in the paint with 28 points off turnovers, 12 points off fastbreak and 12 points off second-chance.
Greater Allegheny (15-4, 9-1 PSUAC) goes on the road for a Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend, taking on Penn State Mont Alto, Friday night. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.