The Penn State DuBois men's basketball team came into this evenings game needing each win to try to secure their playoff spot in the PSUAC. In a jumbled fight for 4th place with PSU Beaver, and PSU Fayette, DuBois played host to PSU Shenango.
DuBois went on a 14-0 run to start the game, and didn't let Shenango score until the 12:52 mark in the first half. An excellent defensive showing by DuBois was an even better offensive showing to start the game. DuBois would hit a snag as defensive leader Cole Morris (Rimersburg, PA) and big man Osagie Evbuomwan (Severn, MD) would have to sit in foul trouble for most of the half.
DuBois would continue the first half strong as they went into the locker room with a 37-19 lead over the 3rd place team in the west. At halftime Russell Gariepy (Albion, PA) had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Shenango came out hot in the 2nd half with a small run of their own, but DuBois kept them at bay, not allowing the lead to get below 8 at any point through the half. The defensive intensity on both sides of the floor found everyone on the edge of their seat for the entire game.
DuBois would get stop after stop until the horn sounded, and after 40 minutes of physical basketball, DuBois came out the victor with a 70-59 margin.
Gariepy ended the game with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assist, and 2 steals. Tre'von Williams (Johnstown, PA) hit a few huge 3-pointers for DuBois at key moments in the game, and ended with 16 points off of 7-9 from the floor. Mekhi Willis (Landstuhl, Germany) dropped in 4 triples to finish with 12 points.
DuBois hosts PSU New Kensington on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
