MBB ready to get started under Coach Marcus Thomas

The Penn State Fayette men's basketball team opened the Marcus Thomas era by splitting its opening weekend games.

Friday night, the Nittany Lions were victorious over Andres on Friday, 77-71.

"We were able to win tonight because of our offensive execution in the second half, attacking the zone instead of being passive and being content shooting three's," Thomas said. "We were able to buckle down defensively and get stops with increased communication, ball pressure and help defense."

Fayette placed five players in double figures as Tavian Mozie (McClellandtown, PA/Albert Gallatin HS) and Iman Young (Silver Spring, MD/West Potomac HS) led the way with 16 points each, Junior Saluca (Suva, Fiji/Laurel Highlands HS) scored 14 off of the bench, Trevor Laskody (Morgantown, WV/Trinity Christian HS) had 13 and Josh Hankins (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) finished with 10.

Fayette shot 44% (28-63) from the floor and 32% (10-31) from beyond the arc.

Hankins led Fayette with nine rebounds while Mozie finished with five assists and five rebounds.

"The key for us today was getting the ball into the middle of the zone and attacking," Thomas said. "Junior was a huge X-factor off of the bench for us and his production really paved the way for us to hang onto the lead towards the end of the game."

Saturday, Fayette could not overcome a 10-point halftime deficit as it lost to Kent St. Tuscarawas, 88-81.

"The key was that we were not able to get second half stops when we needed to," Thomas said. "We also struggled to control dribble penetration and with being able to defend without fouling.  We failed to secure defensive rebounds giving them second and third chances to convert.

"Offensively, we are turning the ball over way too much and have to be better at valuing the basketball.

"These are things we have to improve on if we want different results going forward."

Mozie led four Fayette players I double figures with 17 points.  He made four out of seven three-point attempts and added six rebounds.

Hankins finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, Young had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Dominic Boring (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster HS) had 14 points and six rebounds.

Fayette shot 46% from the field (28-61)

For more information on the men's basketball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/mbkb/index or follow us on Instagram @fayetteathletics.