Roper’s 16 Points Not Enough to Lead Men’s Basketball Past PSU Wilkes-Barre

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

LEHMAN, Pa. – Redshirt freshman guard Marcus Roper (Charles Town, W. Va. / Jefferson) shot a career-best 55.6 percent from the field pouring in a team-high 16 points, but Penn State Mont Alto was unable to overcome an eight-point first half deficit. PSU Wilkes-Barre topped Mont Alto 62-54 on Tuesday, with team falling to 3-3 on the season and 0-1 in the PSUAC. 

Mont Alto jumped out to an early four-point lead after Marcus Roper (Charles Town, W. Va. / Jefferson) opened the game with a layup and Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) forced a turnover, and converted a fast break layup on the ensuing possession. Wilkes-Barre rattled off a 6-0 run, but Mont Alto regained the lead at 10-6 when Roper buried consecutive 3-pointers.  Jordan Gillis (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) came off the bench and quickly scored at the 13:07 mark giving the Lions what turned out to be their final lead of the game at 14-12. PSU Wilkes-Barre outscored the visitors 24-14 with forward Kevin Silverberg keying the run with 15 first half points. Mont Alto trailed Wilkes-Barre 36-28 at the end of the first half. 

Penn State Wilkes-Barre was able to lock down Mont Alto defensivly in the second half forcing the team to 34.5 percent shooting from the field and 3-of-10 from downtown. Quintyn Flemister (Harrisburg, Pa. / Harrisburg) had a solid second half off the bench pouring in seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting half. Wilkes-Barre built up a 19-point second half lead before the Nittany Lions fought back cutting the lead to it's eventual final, 62-54. 

Mont Alto returns to its home court on Friday, December 1 in a PSUAC game with Penn State DuBois. Game time is slated for 8 p.m.