by McKenzie Quirin

GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's basketball team opened its Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference schedule with an away matchup against Pitt-Greensburg on Wednesday night, and the Lions overcame extra minutes to secure an 89-84 win, getting themselves back into the win column.

Penn State Altoona (2-4, 1-0 AMCC) faced an 11-point deficit in the first half but rallied late in the period to get within one by halftime. The Lions battled Pitt-Greensburg closely during the second half, and the score was knotted at 69-69 by the end of regulation. Ultimately, the Lions gained the lead during overtime and powered through for a win.

Dwayne Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Greater Johnstown) led Penn State Altoona in its victory with a career-high 28 points while also finishing with 13 rebounds, two assists and five steals. Kaden Claar (Portage, PA/Portage) came second in points for the Lions with a season-high 25, and he added four rebounds and one steal.

Justin Sheetz (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) scored 15 points while recording one apiece in rebounds and assists, as well as four steals, and Jahmar White (Yigo, Guam/St. Paul Christian School) finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and one steal. Mason Bush (Pittsburgh, PA/Seneca Valley) grabbed eight rebounds.

Micah Jones and James Evans-Mcquay ended Pitt-Greensburg's loss with 20 points apiece. Jones also had 12 rebounds, one assist and three steals, while Mcquay had eight rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Penn State Altoona's Jones made a layup 15 seconds into the first half for the game's first basket, but the Bobcats' Jones put up a three-point jump shot to overtake the Lions' lead. Pitt-Greensburg went on to grow its advantage to 11 points, 21-10, by the 8:02 mark. By 4:43, the home team continued to hold an 11-point lead, 23-12. But Penn State Altoona finished the half by outscoring the Bobcats 18-8, including an 11-2 run within the final 58 seconds of the period. Jones' dunk made it a six-point game, 31-25, and three Claar foul shots at the 11-second mark cut the Pitt-Greensburg advantage to three, 31-28. Jones' layup just before the end of the period cut Penn State Altoona's deficit to one, 31-30.

Evans-Mcquay got the Bobcats on the board early in the second half, but Penn State Altoona tied the game at 33 apiece from a three-point jump shot put in by Claar. At the 18:05 mark, Pitt-Greensburg was awarded three free throws, and Matthew Marinchak made all three to extend their lead to 36-33.

Nearly six minutes into the second half, Claar made a three-pointer to tie the score once again for Penn State Altoona, 45-45. Two layups by Jones helped the Lions take a 49-47 lead, and a pair of Jarrett Gardner (Live Oak, FL/Suwannee) free throws put Penn State Altoona up 51-50. Pitt-Greensburg jumped back ahead and led 55-53 with seven minutes remaining, but the Lions worked their way back in front, going up 60-55 on Jones' dunk at 4:36. A layup from Sheetz with two minutes to go set the Penn State Altoona lead at 65-61, but Pitt-Greensburg fought back to tie the score at 69-69, and the game headed to overtime to decide the winner.

Penn State Altoona's Jones gave the Lions an early lead of 71-69, starting overtime with a made layup. Pitt-Greensburg tied the score at 71, but a free throw and layup by the Lions' Jones put Penn State Altoona up 74-71. White's three-pointer at 3:18 made it 77-73, and his jump shot at 2:03 gave the Lions an 81-75 advantage. The Lions took over in the closing moments of overtime, including getting four free throws from Sheetz within the final 30 seconds of the game, to achieve their second victory of the season and first AMCC win.

Next up, the Penn State Altoona men's basketball team returns home to Adler Arena, as they compete against AMCC opponent Hilbert College on Saturday, December 2, at 3 p.m.