By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto men's basketball team earned it's first PSUAC win of the season while also snapping a three-game losing skid in a 76-72 win over Penn State DuBois on Friday evening. Anthony F. Davis (Prince George's County, Md. / Bowie), Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) and Jordan Gillis (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) each hit free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Mont Alto once again had a strong first half out-scoring PSU DuBois 35-26. The Nittany Lions opened the game on an 18-4 run that included a transition 3-pointer from Jordan Gillis (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) that was assisted by Quintyn Flemister (Harrisburg, Pa. / Harrisburg) and a Nick Jacoby (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) layup capped off the run. However, DuBois settled in and rattled off a 15-0 run of it's own and took it's first lead of the game at 19-18 with 8:15 left in the first half. Mont Alto's defense wore on its opponent as Jalen Smith converted on an old fashioned 3-point play to retake the lead at 21-19 and the Nittany Lions closed the half on a 17-7 run to take the lead into the locker room.
Mont Alto led 50-38 in the second half before DuBois scored five straight points, which forced a Jack Schenzel timeout with 11:38 remaining. However, DuBois was unable to cut lead down to any less than four points and Mont Alto hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) led the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Marcus Roper (Charles Town, W.Va. / Jefferson) scored in double figures with 11 points and Jordan Gillis (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) came off the bench to chip in 14 points.
Penn State Mont Alto returns to action on Tuesday, December 5 when it hosts cross-town rival PSU Lehigh Valley. The Nittany Lions will be hosting a Peer Mentors Tailgate with tipoff slated for 8 p.m.
