Lions capture conference win over Greater Allegheny

Hazleton, Pa. - Penn State Hazleton Men's Basketball secured their first conference victory of the season on Friday, besting Penn State Greater Allegheny at the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium by the score of 69-56. Hazleton was able to lock in defensively against the visitors, holding them to just under 33 percent shooting on the night, and forced Greater Allegheny into 17 turnovers that led to 19 points for the Nittany Lions on their way to the win.

Points came at a premium early on in Friday night's contest. Hazleton and Greater Allegheny combined for just 23 points over the first 10 minutes of play but the Lions broke free for a 15 point run and held Greater Allegheny scoreless for eight minutes of action. During that stretch, Hazleton held the visitors to 0-12 shooting from the field and a combined eight points from third year Shamell Ponds and fourth year Dante Harward along with a triple from third year Dante Stokes to help produce the 16 point lead. Greater Allegheny responded late with three triples to put a dent in the lead, but an old fashioned three point play by third year Andre Campbell kept the Lions in front 30-20 at halftime. 

Scoring would pick up immediately following the halftime break. Campbell offset a good start for the visitors, scoring seven straight points for the Hazleton squad. Both teams would go back and forth trading baskets, but the combination of Campbell, Ponds and Harward led to go up 17 by the 13:43 minute mark before Hazleton went on a 10 point run led by Harward who hit two triples in just under two minutes of play, helping the Lions to a 24 point lead, their biggest of the night. Hazleton would score just nine points in the final 11 minutes of play allowing Greater Allegheny to trim the lead but the Hazleton squad kept the visitors out of reach by slowing the tempo and running out the clock for the 13 point victory. 

The combination of Campbell, Ponds and Harward led to 53 of Hazleton's 69 points on Friday. Campbell led all scorers in the game with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting while going 6-for-9 from the free throw line and notching five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots. Harward went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc to total 18 points with three assists and two blocks while Ponds totaled 12 points with two triples and a pair of steals in the win. Third year George McConkey cleaned up on the glass to the tune of 13 rebounds with five points and two steals respectively. 

Hazleton will look to finish out the semester with a pair of solid efforts on the road as the Lions travel to Penn State Fayette and Penn State Beaver next weekend to finish out the first half of the season.