Despite Dziabo's career night, Lions lose
heartbreaker at Frostburg
2.13.08
(FROSTBURG, MD:) Senior forward Quintin Dziabo (Cresson,
PA/Penn Cambria) scored a career-high 28 points and tied a single-game record
for field goal percentage by shooting 12-14 from the floor (86%), but it wasn't
enough as Penn State Altoona dropped a 75-73 heartbreaker to Frostburg State
Wednesday night in Maryland. The Bobcats improved to 7-15 overall and 6-9
in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference while the Lions fell to 11-11
and 8-7 in the AMCC.
With the game tied at 70 with 3:18 remaining, Frostburg received
a lay up from Brian Anderson and two free throws from Brian Green to grab a
74-70 lead at the 1:32 mark. Lion guard Colin Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove)
buried a trey on the following Altoona possession to cut the deficit to one at
74-73. The Bobcats committed one of their 18 turnovers with 33 ticks to
play, but the Lions gave it right back with five seconds showing on the clock.
Anderson made one of two free throws after being fouled by Zach Spitz
(Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township), and Curtis Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove)
missed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Altoona trailed by as many as 11 midway through the second half
before using a 14-2 run to retake the lead 69-68 with 4:01 left. But that
was the last Lion advantage in a game that featured eight ties and seven lead
changes.
The Lions were ahead nearly the entire first half and found
themselves on top 29-22 after a Kirk Peters (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna
Township) foul shot at the 5:48 mark. But Frostburg closed the period on a
17-6 spurt to stake a 39-34 advantage at intermission.
After the Bobcats scored the first two buckets of the second
half, it was Altoona's turn to rally and reclaim the lead off a Colin Geiger
trey four minutes in. As a unit, Penn State Altoona shot 5-20 from
distance (25%) but did shoot 51% overall (28-55) from the field.
Frostburg State made 16-29 first half field goals and shot 46.%
FG on the night. The Lions dominated the painted area 38-22 in large part
thanks to Dziabo and Peters, who finished with 14 points. But the Bobcat
reserves accounted for 42 points compared to just 16 total points by the Altoona
subs.
Four players reached double figures for FSU led by Green (20
points, 3 steals) and Anderson (14 points, 3 assists). Dale DeBerry and
Jamal Bracken netted 15 and 10, respectively, off the bench for the Bobcats, who
shot 15-20 at the charity stripe for 75%.
Dziabo had 19 of his 28 in the second half, and teammate Colin
Geiger chipped in 10. The Lions were 12-19 from the foul line for 63.2%.
All seven of the Bobcats' wins have come on their home court. FSU is 0-4
in neutral site games and 0-9 in true road games.
Penn State Altoona returns to action this Saturday as it travels
to Medaille College in Buffalo, NY, for a 3:00 PM tip against the Mavericks.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
