Roaring Lions Defeat Hazleton 78-69

LEMONT FURNACE,Pa. – Trailing by 13 in waning moments of the first half and two days removed from a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer, you might excuse the Roaring Lions for feeling down and out.

But not this time. Not these Lions. Instead of the collapse some expected, Coach Mark John's team answered the challenge with at 51-point second half en route to a 78-69 victory over Penn State Hazleton at the Fayette Community Center on Friday evening.

Eight minutes into the second half, James Pratt (Uniontown, Pa.) hit an important three from the top of the key to tie the score at 48 A minute later Dierre Jenkins (Uniontown, Pa.) hit a rainbow three to give Fayette the lead for the first time at 51-48. The Roaring Lions would not trail again en route to a 51-point second half performance and an impressive PSUAC victory.

Fayette (6-11,7-4 PSUAC) was paced by Pratt's 20 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Cunningham (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) added  19 while grabbing nine rebounds.