(ALTOONA, PA:) Freshman Chad Zeigler (Mechanicsburg,
PA/Mechanicsburg) scored all eight of his points in the final eight minutes and
drained the go-ahead three pointer with 7:41 left as Penn State Altoona held off
visiting La Roche 63-50 Wednesday night at the Adler Gym. The Lions
improved to 10-8, matching last year's season-long win total, and moved three
games above .500 (7-4) in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play.
The Redhawks fell to 8-10 and 5-6 in the AMCC.
Zeigler, who played just four minutes in the first half and did
not attempt a shot, put the Lions on top 47-46 with his first trey inside of
eight minutes. After a Curtis Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) lay up
extended the lead to three, Zeigler cashed his second triple at the 5:30 mark to
make the score 52-46. Altoona wouldn't score again until 2:41 showed on
the clock, when Zeigler hit a driving jumper that began an 11-2 run to conclude
the game and set the final.
The first half featured junior Colin Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove)
scoring 13 points off the bench on 5-6 shooting, 3-4 from downtown, before
injuring his ankle late in the period. Freshman Kirk Peters (Harrisburg,
PA/Susquehanna Township) netted 11 of his team-high 15 points in the opening
half in which the Lions shot 58.3% from the field (14-24). Senior Quintin
Dziabo (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria) rounded out the Lions' double digit scorers
after netting 11.
Penn State Altoona held a commanding 34-21 advantage at
intermission after dominating much of the first period. The Lions bolted to a
7-0 lead and jumped ahead 21-8 on a Peters lay up midway through the half.
La Roche cut it to six minutes later, but Altoona concluded the half with an
11-4 run that included two Colin Geiger threes.
The Redhawks shot out of the gates to begin the final period,
using a 14-2 run to get within a single point (36-35) with 15:14 remaining.
Altoona scored the next six points before La Roche battled back and grabbed a
46-44 lead at the 10 minute mark.
Sophomore point guard Zach Spitz (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna
Township) nearly pulled off the rare double-double, dishing out 10 assists and
grabbing nine rebounds. The Lions finished at 54.3% from the field thanks to an
11-22 second half shooting performance.
La Roche finished the game 22-49 from the field (44.9%) and
attempted only one free throw. Dylan Grazier scored 13 in defeat while
teammate Steve Lucas added 12 off the bench.
Penn State Altoona embarks on a two game road trip beginning at
conference frontrunner Lake Erie this Saturday, February 2. Tip time in
Painesville, Ohio, is 3:00 PM.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
