Although they struggled the first ten minutes of the game, the local Nittany Lions eventually overwhelmed Penn State Fayette.
'Well, we started out slow. That's been our thing,' Penn State New Kensington coach Heath Bailey said. 'I think we disrespect our opposing team's talent too much. It's one of those things where it's something we are going to have to get over in the end.
'We can't do that against the Potomac State's, the McKeesport's, and the CCBC's of this league,' he said. 'We're going to have to find a way to put two good halves together down the stretch.'
Penn State Fayette jumped out to an 8-0 lead while Penn State New Kensington was having trouble converting.
Penn State New Kensington was able to set up its press and force Penn State Fayette into numerous turnovers.
PSNK took its first lead with 10:53 left before the intermission as Plum native Jerry Vargo nailed a three pointer to give the Lions a 14-13 advantage.
It was all Penn State New Kensington from there. PSNK took off on a 31-18 run to claim a 49-34 lead at halftime.
Everyone for Penn State New Kensington eventually would score in what would turn out to be a rout.
Freshman Jason Benson, who entered the game ranked second in the WPCC in scoring, lead the Lions with 22 points. Freshman center Mario Boyd chipped in 17 as four Penn State players finished in double figures.
'The first half I think we came out real slow, but in the second half we picked it up,' Boyd said. 'Our coach told us to pick it up becasue we aren't playing like the championship team we are.'
Penn State has five games remaining before the playoffs. They have clinched the CCAC title and are in a tie with Potamac State for second in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference.
Bailey still feels there are some issues to be addressed before his Lions can overtake the top teams.
'We have to get hungry,' Bailey said. 'We have to work on our diamond press. We also have to come out and play harder man-to-man.'
PS Fayette (57)
Lamar Downer 1 0-0 2, Anthony Binns 2 0-0 5, Jason Benson 10 2-2 22, Jerry Vargo 2 1-2 7, Allen Corbin 5 2-2 14, Justin Naylon 6 0-1 13, Allen Robinson 3 0-0 6, Marcellus Tyler 5 2-3 12, Kahil Fennell 4 1-1 9, Mario Boyd 7 3-9 17.
PSNK (107)
Tim Polosky 10 0-1 22, Tony Rose 4 0-0 8, Rob Puskes 4 0-0 8, Matt Ridley, Nathan Lucosh 4 0-0 10, Matt Cettin 2 1-2 5.
PS-Fayette 34 23 - 57
PSNK 49 58 - 107
3-Point goals - PSNK: Binns 1, Vargo 2, Corbin 2, Naylon. PS-Fayette: Polosky 2, Lucosh2. Fouled out - None.
