(HAMBURG, NY:) Five Penn State Altoona players scored in
double figures, and the Lions shot 60% from the field in the second half en
route to a 79-66 victory over Hilbert College Saturday afternoon. The
victors improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate
Conference while Hilbert fell to 2-3 and 0-2 in the AMCC.
After connecting on just 12-33 (36.4%) first half buckets, Penn
State Altoona shot a blazing 18-30 from the field over the final 20 minutes and
outscored the Hawks 48-37 to claim their first conference triumph of the season.
Senior forward Quintin Dziabo (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria), who was without a
point at intermission, netted 18 in the second half on 7-10 shooting to front
the Lions offensively.
Leading 31-29 at the break, Altoona opened the second half on an
11-0 run that included a lay up and three pointer by junior Curtis Geiger
(Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove). Hilbert never got closer than eight points,
and the Lion lead reached 18 points on three different occasions.
The Lions scored 20 points off 21 Hilbert giveaways and received
29 points from the reserves, including 11 from senior Mike Dancer
(Montgomeryville, PA/North Penn) and 10 courtesy of junior Colin Geiger
(Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove). Sophomore point guard Zach Spitz (Harrisburg,
PA/Susquehanna Township) scored 15 points on 7-12 shooting, and Curtis Geiger
had 13.
AMCC Preseason Player of the Year Dallas Reinard led Hilbert
with 32 points on 11-20 shooting and 10 rebounds. Teammate Michael Reyes
chipped in 10.
The Hawks jumped out to a 9-2 advantage early on and led 18-10 at
the 12:31 mark via a Reinard triple. Altoona would battle back and take
the lead for good on a Curtis Geiger three pointer with less than six minutes
left in the opening half.
Penn State Altoona out-rebounded the hosts 35-34 and scored 32
points in the paint compared to just 22 by he Hawks.
The Lions have won the last four meetings between the two
schools and marks the longest current winning streak for Altoona against any
AMCC opponent. The squad returns to action this Wednesday, December 5, for
an 8:00 PM home date with Pitt-Bradford at the Adler Gym.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
