Photo of Guard - Tristan Pierce

PSUD Men Beat #6 Ranked PSU Greater Allegheny 87-80 in OT

The Penn State DuBois men's basketball team hosted Penn State Greater Allegheny, the number 6 team in the country according to the latest coaches poll in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Friday night. PSU GA was also undefeated in Penn State University Athletic Conference play heading into the game, that saw PSUD overcome a slow start to get a nice 87-80 win in overtime. PSU GA would score the first seven points of the game before Junior guard Tristan Pierce (Lancaster, Oh/Lancaster) would make a 3 pointer, the first 3 points of his game high 34, shooting 8-13 from the floor and 13-17 from the free throw line. Tristan also added 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Pierce would also score PSUD's next bucket on a layup, then assisted Freshman Dylan Huey (Punxsutawney, Pa/Punxsutawney) for a layup that made the game 9-7 PSUGA with 15:27 left in the first half. Both sides took turns with the lead over the next 15 minutes with PSU GA going into the half up 36-30.

PSU GA came out in the second half much like they did to start the game pushing the lead to the largest of the game for either team at 41-30. PSUD would regain composure as they also did in the first half with help from 3 pointers by Sophomore Dane Aucker (DuBois, Pa/DuBois Central Catholic) and Pierce. Senior Sam Roselli (Ridgway,Pa/Ridgway) added a layup to cut the lead of GA to 47-43 with 13:55 to play. A layup by GA at the 11:39 mark pushed their lead to 9, then another small run by PSUD would conclude with back to back layups from Roselli marking the score 57-53 with PSUD still trailing. With 2:08 left in the game, PSUD trailing by 7 Aucker nailed another big three followed by two made free throws from Roselli cutting the PSU GA lead to 73-71. PSU GA's Jordan Payne would go to the line with 1:11 remaining but could only make 1 of 2, PSUD would push the ball up the court get to the free throw line themselves. Sophomore Jake Perrin (Brockway, Pa/Brockway) could only convert on 1 of 2 from the line as well, PSU GA would get the rebound and work the ball around using up some clock. With 24 seconds left PSUD would get the stop they needed. Following a timeout by PSUD, Pierce would get to the free line after a drive to the basket. Pierce would make both tying the game at 74. After a PSU GA timeout, PSUD once again would get a defensive stand as PSU GA was unable to get a shot off as Aucker came up with a steal on the late drive to the basket.

In overtime there was no slow start for PSUD as they would take the first lead on another Roselli layup, who finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Both team traded baskets and the lead until PSUD would go ahead for good with :54 seconds remaining on a free throw from Pierce. Pierce would then make 4 straight free throws as GA was trying to foul. Up 84-80 with :17 seconds left Aucker would get a defensive rebound and get pushed after the whistle resulting in a technical foul on GA. Pierce would make both foul shots for the T, and Aucker would make 1 of 2 resulting in the 87-80 final.

Jake Perrin came off the bench to score 6 points, grab 8 rebounds, and dish 4 assists. PSUD would outrebound the bigger more athletic GA 45-34 and also make 24 free throws to GA's 11.

"Without our best athlete in starter Jesse Reynolds (Ridgway,Pa/Ridgway), I thought the guys really stepped up tonight and made sure we rebounded every shot and attacked on the offense end instead of settling for jumpers," stated PSUD coach Dylan Howard. "I was also very pleased of the maturity and composure of the guys tonight, when we were down double digits in the second half no one panicked we just kept with the game plan and stayed together."

This game concludes the first semester PSUAC schedule for the PSUD men's team at 3-2, putting them in a 4-way tie for 3rd place. Currently 6-4 overall PSUD will travel to Buffalo Saturday December 17th to play fellow USCAA D II member #16 Villa Maria for a 3pm tip.