Roaring Lions dominate New Kensington for first win

December 9, 2010--Uniontown, Pa.

Penn State Fayette took home its first victory Thursday night, defeating Penn State New Kensington 85-66 in a Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference match-up. After a difficult non-conference schedule, the Roaring Lions (1-8, 1-1)  got in the win column with a balanced attack that helped to build an early lead. Fayette placed four players in double-figures, all scoring more than 14 points. The win also was historic for first year head coach Mark John, who gets his first collegiate victory as the Roaring Lions head coach.

Sophomore guard James Pratt led the Roaring Lions with 16 points and 11 rebounds, posting the first double-double of his career, while also dishing out three assists and collecting three steals. Sophomore forward David Winns dominated the paint, despite two early fouls, contributing a team-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Senior guard Tim O'Bryant scored 16 points and pulled down a season-high six rebounds, while junior guard Josh Tomson narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds. O'Bryant and Tomson both distributed the basketball well, collecting four assists each.

Fayette beat the Lions in several categories, including outrebounding New Kensington 48-40 and collecting 13 assists to the Lions four. The Roaring Lions also had their best shooting game of the season, shooting nearly 60 percent (20-for-35) from the field in the first half, and finishing 32-for-64 (50 percent). Fayette's bench had a solid evening, outscoring New Kensington's bench 21-9. New Kensington shot only 33 percent (25-for-74), as the Roaring Lions defense created tough shots and 15 turnovers, including nine steals. 

The Roaring Lions jumped out to an early lead, going up 6-0 before extending the lead to 10 with only seven minutes gone in the first half. The teams traded baskets until Fayette broke the lead open to 16 with a 17-11 advantage scored in the final minutes of the first half. New Kensington got as close as nine in the second half, but an 8-0 run by Fayette pushed the lead to 17, and it never got closer than 15 after that.

New Kensington was led by Justin Reed, who scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Daryl Harrington scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds and Alex Matta contributed 14 points for the Lions.

The Roaring Lions host Penn State Schuylkill in a PSUAC match-up on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2:00 p.m. Fayette closes out the fall season with Saint Vincent at home on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 1:00 p.m.