(WILLIAMSPORT, PA:) With the game knotted at 56 after
regulation, Penn State Altoona outscored Lycoming 15-9 in overtime to earn a
71-65 victory, stunning the Warriors in their own Tip-off Tournament Friday
evening. The Lions won a season opener for the first time in program
history and advanced to play Kings College (PA) Saturday at 4:00 PM in the
championship game.
Junior Colin Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) canned a three
pointer 30 seconds into overtime, and the Lions would score eight more points on
free throws in the extra session to secure the victory and improve to 1-0 on the
season. Lycoming, who returned 11 lettermen and four double digit scorers
from a year ago, fell to 0-1.
Geiger, twin brother Curtis (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove), and
senior forward Quintin Dziabo (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria) all reached double
figures in scoring to front Altoona. Curtis had a game high 18 points,
Colin added 12, and Dziabo finished with 11 points and eight boards.
Altoona fired a blistering 68% from the field in the first half
(13-19) compared to just 34% by the Warriors. The hosts were a dismal 5-22
from beyond the arc and were outscored 15-8 from the free throw line.
Lycoming did force the Lions into 20 turnovers and held a slight
advantage in points off those miscues (23-17) as well as points in the paint
(32-20).
Altoona grabbed a 5-3 advantage just two minutes into the game
and would not relinquish the lead until the 6:24 mark of the second half.
The Lions led by as many as 17 in the waning minutes of the opening period and
found themselves ahead 32-24 at the break.
Eric Anthony led Lycoming with 17 points, and teammate Greg Sye
chipped in 13 and seven rebounds. The Warriors will meet The College of
New Jersey in Saturday's consolation game at 2:00 PM.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
