Men’s Basketball Bests Christendom

Men’s Basketball Bests Christendom

By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and a high defensive intensity, which forced a season best 27 turnovers to runaway past Christendom College by a 75-43 score. Mont Alto maintained a double-digit lead on Tuesday after a Nick Jacoby (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) transition layup that put them up 21-11 with 10:31 remaining in the first half. The Nittany Lions improved to 3-0 on the season.

Inside the Box Score

  • Shun Hickman (Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) and Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) both finished in double figures with the duo combining for 29 points in the win. Smith knocked down four of his five attempted triples for a game-high 16 points. Hickman knocked down three 3-pointers and shot 5-of-9 overall from the field.
  • Terrell Campbell (Germantown, Md. / St. John's College Prep) dished out seven assists to go along with his eight points.
  • Mont Alto shot a season best 50.8 percent from the field and 11-of-23 from downtown and scored 27 points off of turnovers.
  • Nine different players came off the bench as they combined to outscore Christendom by a 31-6 margin.
  • The Crusaders were held to 16-of-49 (32.7%) shooting from the field and were led by Luke Schultz who finished with a double-double at 18 points and 10 boards.

How it Happened

  • PSUMA opened the game on a 13-5 run with both team's connecting on multiple 3-pointers during the first six minutes of play.
  • Mont Alto's defensive intensity slowed down the Crusaders offensive attack as they were often forced to heave last second shot attempts. Mont Alto opened a 31-14 lead after a Hickman 3-pointer and went on another 8-2 run after a Christendom timeout to put them up 39-16.
  • Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) started a 12-4 run by knocking down three consecutive triples to start the second half and the run was capped off by another successful attempt by Hickman that put them up 43-22.
  • The Nittany Lions maintained a 25-plus lead for the final 15 minutes of action.

Mont Alto returns to the court on Monday, November 19 in a road matchup with Salem University. The Tigers who are 2-0 to begin their season, but also face NCAA Division II No. 2 ranked West Liberty on Wednesday evening will certainly test Mont Alto next week.