Roaring Lions thwart New Ken in home opener

LEMONT FURNACE— Making the most of their only home game until after the new year, Penn State Fayette's Roaring Lions surged to an 85-63 win over Penn State New Kensington on Dec. 1.

    Fayette (3-5, 2-0) never trailed from the outset, as Spencer Perieff scored the game's first six points and a 3-point basket by Brownsville High School alumnus C.J. Gaddis gave the Roaring Lions a 9-2 lead.

    New Kensington (3-5, 0-2) cut the lead to 14-11 before Fayette scored the next 11 points, capped by a 3-point basket by Brandon Cunningham, and a free throw by Gaddis to lead 25-11.

    The visitors once again fought back to within four points at 31-27. The Roaring Lions answered once again with a 9-4 run to end the half with a 40-31 lead.

    Fayette began the second half with a 15-6 run to lead 55-37 and built the lead to 83-51 before New Kensington closed the game with a 12-2 run to set the final score.

    Luke Williams led Fayette with 21 points, Gaddis was next with 15, Cunningham scored 13 and Perieff had 13. Coach Mark John was able to get 13 players into the game, including six freshmen, and 10 players made the scoring column.

    Michael Reece and Jordan Williams combined for more than half of New Kensington's points. Reece led all scorers with 24 points, while Jordan added 12. Antonio Hall was next with nine points, but only six of the visitors made the scoring column.

    Fayette made 19 of 28 free throws, led by Williams' six for 10 at the charity stripe, while New Kensington was under .500 at the line, sinking just 11 of 24 attempts.

    While New Kensington ha a 39-27 advantage in rebounding, Fayette limited its own turnovers to nine on the night. Fayette also had a sizeable lead in points "in the paint" at 44 to 30, and points off turnovers at 15 to 7.