Penn State Mont Alto 55, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 53
Caleb Eckert scored a team-high 18 points on Tuesday evening as Mont Alto clinched the PSUAC West Division for the fourth consecutive season with a 55-53 victory over Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Cameron Williams also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.
A three-point basket from Eckert with 15:53 left in the first half would mark the first time Mont Alto would score in Tuesday's contest after starting out 0-4 from the field. Both teams were locked into a tight defensive battle in the early going as Wilkes-Barre led 11-8 at the halfway mark until a Bryson Fleming three-point basket tied the game at 11-11 with 9:35 left in the opening half. Both teams would trade leads numerous times throughout the opening half until Eckert made consecutive baskets to push the Mont Alto lead to 24-19 with 49 seconds remaining in the half. Nathan Osei converted a three-pointer from Dariel Rivera near the buzzer to send Mont Alto into the locker room with a 27-22 halftime lead.
The Mont Alto lead hovered near ten for a majority of the second half before Wilkes-Barre made its comeback attempt in the game's final minute. With Mont Alto ahead 54-49, Jalen Willis brought Wilkes-Barre to within three points trailing 54-51 with 1:13 remaining. Following a Willis foul of Williams, Williams would convert on one of two free throw attempts. On the next possession, Willis made both of his free throw attempts on a Nathan Osei shooting foul to trim the deficit to just two points 55-53 with 41 seconds left. Those points would be the last of the contest as Rashod Ballard's game-tying attempt was unsuccessful. Mont Alto hung on for the 55-53 win over the East Division foe.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre leaders
Jalen Willis 17 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds
Anthony Picott 14 points
Penn State Mont Alto leaders
Caleb Eckert 18 points
Cameron Williams 13 points, 10 rebounds
Up Next: Penn State Mont Alto travels to Penn State Brandywine on Friday evening for an 8 p.m. start