Big 2nd Half Run Lifts Altoona

Penn State Altoona went on a 17-2 run early in the 2nd half to break a tie en route to a 78-69 victory over visiting Alfred State on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers are now 3-4 overall and 2-2 in AMCC play.

Alfred State trailed 36-31 at the half but scored the first five points of the half to tie it. The Lions answered back with their big 17-2 run keyed by four 3-pointers. Altoona led by as many as 20 in the 2nd half but the Pioneers put together two runs to close the gap but could never get any closer than nine.

Jahmel Demery (Rochester/Eastridge) led the Pioneers with 14 points and eight boards. Markel Jenkins (Elmira) finished with nine points and seven boards, Donte Jones (Brooklyn Collegiate) scored eight off the bench, and Josh Reding (Spencerport) and Tavion Williams (Bronx/FDA) each had seven.

The Pioneers shot 43.9% (25 for 57) from the floor, 1 for 5 from three, and 58.1% (18 for 31) from the foul line. The blue & gold was slowed down by 25 turnovers.

Altoona was led by Robbie Hicks. Hicks connected on five three pointers and finished with 32 points. Andrew Harman had a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. The Lions were 14 for 37 from beyond the three-point arc.

The Pioneers are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Nazareth for a 6 p.m. battle with the Flyers.