(ALTOONA, PA:) Rhett Gordon drained a fade away jumper
with sixth-tenths of a second remaining on the clock and Pitt-Greensburg
overcame a 12-point second half deficit to escape with a 72-71 victory over Penn State
Altoona Wednesday evening at the Adler Gym. The Bobcats climbed to 7-9
overall and 6-3 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference while the Lions
dropped to 8-8 overall and 5-4 in the AMCC.
Altoona led by four (69-65) with 1:09 left before three straight
Greensburg free throws trimmed the Bobcat deficit to one with 44 seconds to
play. A missed three pointer by Lion guard Colin Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove)
and subsequent Jacquet Wells lay up with 12 seconds remaining put the visitors
back on top 70-69. Wells was also fouled on the play but missed the
freebee, and Altoona forward Kirk Peters (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township)
was hacked on the rebound. He made both free throws with 10 ticks
remaining as the Lions retook the lead 71-70. Gordon's game-winning jumper
was his only shot attempt of the game in just nine minutes of action. The
Lions were unable to get a shot away before the final buzzer.
The two squads exchanged leads throughout much of the game
before Geiger scored nine of his team-high 18 points during a 14-0 run over a five
minute stretch in the second half that gave the Lions their largest leads at 53-41. Twin brother Curtis Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove), and
senior forward Quintin Dziabo (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria) scored consecutive
baskets to keep the lead at nine (65-56) with 4:37 to play.
The Lions got 28 points off of Greensburg's miscues and held a
13-2 advantage on fast break points. The Lions also had a distinct edge at
the free throw line, connecting on 21-28 foul shots compared to just 8-16 by
Pitt-Greensburg.
Greensburg placed five players in double figures led by Darnell
Hampton's 18 points and five three pointers. Wells (16 points, 6 rebounds,
4 assists), Daniel Waajid (11 points, 13 rebounds), Ed Montgomery (10 points),
and Elliott Prigrom (10 points, 6 rebounds) were also stellar for the Bobcats,
who shot 50.9% from the field on the night (27-53).
Along with Colin Geiger's 18 points, the Lions received 16 from
Dziabo, 15 from Curtis Geiger, and 13 and eight rebounds from Peters. Penn
State Altoona shot 41.1% from the field but only 32.4% (11-34) in the second
half.
The game featured 12 total lead changes, seven in the final 20
minutes, and saw the Lions force 24 Bobcat turnovers while committing only 13
giveaways. Altoona effectively switched between man-to-man and zone
defenses before Hampton found his touch from outside, hitting four second half
treys to keep the Bobcats within striking distance.
Waajid scored the game's first two field goals, and the Bobcats
bolted to an 11-3 advantage less than five minutes in. Altoona chipped
away and took its first lead 21-20 off a Curtis Geiger jumper at the 8:03 mark.
The hosts led 35-34 at intermission after Wells canned a long ball in the final
30 seconds to get UPG within a single point.
Penn State Altoona will begin the second cycle of Allegheny
Mountain Collegiate Conference action this Saturday, January 26, as Hilbert
comes to the Adler Gym. Tip time is set for 3:00 PM.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
