BUFFALO, NY – Penn State Schuylkill punched its ticket to the USCAA Small College National Championship Final Four, defeating Great Bay Community College 74-55 in Wednesday night's opening-round matchup at the Burt Flickinger Center.
With the win, the Lions move on to the Final Four, where they will face a familiar opponent in Penn State Mont Alto on Friday at 1 p.m.
Fast Start and Defensive Pressure Fuel Schuylkill's Win
Schuylkill wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to an early lead behind the hot shooting of Amir Gray (15 points, 7-11 FG) and Issac Lane (18 points, 7-7 FT). The Lions' aggressive defense disrupted Great Bay, forcing 16 turnovers and holding them to just 34.3% shooting from the field (23-67) and a cold 19.2% from three (5-26).
While Great Bay's Theodore Wolfe (15 points, 17 rebounds) battled hard in the paint, Schuylkill controlled the tempo throughout, using fast-break opportunities (12 fast-break points) and strong bench production (23 points off the bench) to keep their opponent at bay.
At halftime, Schuylkill led 36-26, and the Lions never looked back, extending their advantage in the second half by turning defense into offense and controlling the paint (32 points inside).
Key Performers for Penn State Schuylkill:
- Issac Lane: 18 points, 5-12 FG, 7-7 FT, 3 rebounds
- Amir Gray: 15 points, 7-11 FG, 4 rebounds
- Antwuan Byrd: 11 points, 5 rebounds, team-high 7 assists
- Dashawn Dixon: 9 points, 7 rebounds
- Makhi Jones: 7 points, 6 rebounds
- Bench Impact: 23 points combined, led by Hadir Boswell (3 points), Tre Worsley (2 points), and Jeremiah Miller (2 points).
Looking Ahead: A Familiar Rival in the Final Four
With the win, Schuylkill now sets its sights on Penn State Mont Alto, a conference foe they've faced multiple times this season. Tip-off is set for Friday at 1 p.m., with a spot in the USCAA National Championship game on the line.
Schuylkill will look to build on its strong defensive effort and efficient offense as they prepare for a high-stakes matchup against a team they know well.
Stay tuned as the Lions continue their quest for a national title!
