(BRADFORD, PA:) Senior forward Quintin Dziabo (Cresson,
PA/Penn Cambria) scored a team-high 16 points, and classmate Mike Dancer
(Montgomeryville, PA/North Penn) added 15 off the bench including four three
pointers as Penn State Altoona edged Pitt-Bradford 76-69 Wednesday night. The
Lions improved to 11-9 overall and sit alone in third place in the 10-team AMCC
with an 8-5 conference mark. The Panthers fell to 10-10 and 6-7 in league
play.
After Bradford's Bobby McFadden drained a jumper to cut the
Altoona lead to one (61-60) with 2:34 remaining, Dancer made a triple to extend
the lead to four at the 1:55 mark, then hit another trey a minute later to give
the Lions a much needed cushion. Curtis Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove)
and Justin Gasbarre each made three free throws in the last 25 seconds to
preserve the win, just the second in program history at Bradford.
Geiger had 13 of his 14 points in the second half as the Lions
connected on 61.9% of their field goals in the period (13-21). Altoona
made 11-23 buckets in the first half and concluded the night shooting 54.5%.
The Panthers shot 45% from the floor and actually made three
more field goals in the game than their counterparts (27-24). The
difference was at the charity stripe as the Lions earned 35 attempts, making 21
(60%), compared to only 12-19 (63.2%) for the hosts.
Bradford placed four players in double figures as Shawn Spindler
and Mike Ridge each recorded 15. Jess Whelan added 14, and Andy Buyea
chipped in 10 for the Panthers, who converted 17 points off 16 Penn State
Altoona turnovers.
The first half featured three ties and eight lead changes before
the hosts used a late 7-0 run to nab a 33-23 lead with 1:22 left. Dancer
canned a pair of threes before the halftime horn and brought the Lions within
four (33-29) at intermission.
In large part thanks to Dancer, the Altoona reserves outscored
Pitt-Bradford's subs 26-15. The Lions also out-rebounded UPB 38-34 and got
eight boards and seven points from point guard Zach Spitz (Harrisburg,
PA/Susquehanna Township).
Penn State Altoona returns to action this Saturday, February 9,
for a showdown with AMCC frontrunner Penn State Behrend. Tip time is
slated for 4:00 PM at the Adler Gym.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
