No. 20 Roaring Lions Top Penn State Mont Alto, 67-63

January 14, 2012

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - The no. 20 Penn State Fayette men's basketball team took home a 67-63 win over Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference foe Penn State Mont Alto on Saturday in the Community Center Main Arena. The Roaring Lions (6-7, 5-0 PSUAC) improved to 2-3 on their home court.

Freshman Brandon Cunningham (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.) led Fayette with 20 points and three steals, while junior Ryan Hart (Pittsburgh, Pa.) collected his fourth double-double, scoring 15 points to match his 15 rebounds. Junior David Winns (Washington, DC) added 17 points and two blocks for the Roaring Lions.

Fayette led by as many as 16 in the first half, but the Lions chipped away at Fayette's lead throughout the game, trailing 36-24 at halftime. Mont Alto shot 46 percent in the second half, outscoring the Roaring Lions 39-31, and took their second lead, 63-62, with 1:22 remaining. Fayette answered with a three from junior James Pratt (Uniontown, Pa.) with only 35 seconds remaining to take a 65-63 lead. Pratt sealed the win with two free throws at the eight second mark, and finished with eight points and five rebounds.

The Roaring Lions went 24-for-52 from the field, including seven three-point field goals. But turnovers kept Mont Alto in the game, as 20 Fayette giveaways turned into 17 points for the Lions. Mont Alto also had an advantage in bench points, outscoring Fayette 19-4. But Fayette won the battle in the paint, 32-26 in points while pulling down 38 rebounds, notching one more than the Lions.

Mont Alto was led by Tyree Maeser with 17 points while Jeffry Bowie added 11 for the Lions.

Fayette put their perfect conference record on the line on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:00 p.m. as they host Penn State New Kensington in PSUAC action. The Roaring Lions defeated New Kensington, 99-84, on Dec. 8, 2011.