Big Scoring First Half Propels Men’s Basketball to Road Victory

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

FRONT ROYAL, Va. – The Penn State Mont Alto men's basketball won its third-straight game to begin its 2017-18 season with an 88-63 victory over Christendom College. Mont Alto out-scored the Crusaders 51-30 in the first half and its pressure defense allowed the team to cruise to the road win. 

Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) led the team with 24 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting from three point range. Smith ranks fourth in the PSUAC averaging 23 points per contest. Marcus Roper (Charles Town, W. Va. / Jefferson) was the only other Lion to score in double figures adding 10 points, but the Mont Alto bench scored a season-high 40 points. 

Freshman Jordan Gillis (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) spearheaded the effort scoring nine points with John Link (Hedgesville, W. Va. / Hedgesville) chipping in eight points with four of them earned at the charity stripe. Quintyn Flemister (Harrisburg, Pa. / Harrisburg) stuffed the stat sheet scoring seven points, five assists, five steals and three boards. Anthony F. Davis (Prince George's County, Md. / Bowie) made his colligate debut, also off the bench, scoring eight points.

Mont Alto forced a season-high 34 turnovers and protected the ball themselves with only 14 unforced errors. The Nittany Lions shot a 36.4% clip from distance in the win over the Crusaders. Mont Alto returns to action on Friday, November 17 in a home game with NCAA Division III Southern Virginia. Tip from the MAC is scheduled for 7 p.m.