MBB splits weekend slate

The Penn State Fayette men's basketball team split a pair of Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) contests over the weekend and ended a five-game losing streak in the process.

Friday night, Penn State Wilkes-Barre (8-0 overall, 6-0 PSUAC) made 32 of 34 free throw attempts to pull out an 84-80 win over Fayette (5-6, 1-4).

"We played a lot better and a better team-brand of basketball," said head coach Andy Hedrick. "Sometimes you have to give the other team credit, and they made (32 of 34 free throws) which is why they won the game.  Our defense was better, but foul trouble hurt us.  I thought Sean Cunningham and Carlton Canaday played well off the bench and helped neutralize (Wilkes-Barre's) size advantage.

Wilkes-Barre shot 94.1 percent from the line on its 34 attempts while Fayette made 14 of the 18 free throws (77.8 percent) it attempted.  Wilkes-Barre shot 46 percent (23-50) from the field while Fayette was limited to 38.0 percent (30-79).

Dasilas Jones (Fairmont, WV/Fairmont HS) led Fayette with a team-high 20 points.  Dom Boring (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster HS) recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Mo Freeman (New Castle, DE/Salem Community College) and Canaday (Williamsburg, VA/Peninsula Catholic) also hit double figures as they scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Saturday, Fayette defeated Penn State Scranton (4-7, 2-4), 106-82, behind 16 three-pointers.

"We played a great team game," said Hedrick. "It was the best we have played all year.  We got contributions from every player that went into the game.  I am very proud of their effort."

All five starters hit double figures and six Fayette players in total reached the mark.  Tave Mozie (McClellandtown, PA/Albert Gallatin HS) led the way with 21 points, including six three-pointers, and a game-high five assists.  Jones had 19 points, Freeman finished with 16, Canaday scored a career-high 14, Boring tallied 12 and Will Hagwood (Willoughby, OH/Willoughby HS) chipped in with 11.

Fayette shot 52.8 percent (38-72) for the game while Scranton shot 47.2 percent (34-72).  Fayette was 16 of 36 (44.4 percent) on three-pointers and made 14 of 15 free throw attempts (93.3 percent).

Fayette heads to Penn State New Kensington (4-5, 2-3) Tuesday for a PSUAC game.

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