Beaver Advances to PSUAC Final Four; Defeat Schuylkill

By: Alonna Verrico

The Penn State Beaver Men's Basketball Team hosted the PSUAC Elite Eight play-off game Friday night. Cleinching the first seed, Beaver matched up against the eighth seed, Penn State Schuylkill.

Beaver's senior Matt Franitti (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk) started the offensive drive off in style with a behind the back assist to teammate, junior Zach Fetchin (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell). Beaver led Schuylkill until the five minute mark when Schuylkill cut away at Beaver's lead. Schuykill succeeded taking the lead away from Beaver, going in at the half up 37-32.

Coming out in the 2nd, Beaver's junior Tim Kubis (Alquippa, PA/Hopewell) hit a 3-point jumper from the corner to ignite Beaver's offensive 8-0 run on Schuylkill. Fetchin and sophomore David McGarry (Poland, PA/Welsh College) dominated on offensive boards. With four steals a piece, Franitti and Kubis stopped Schuylkills offense dead in their tracks. Sealing the game on a free throw by McGarry, Beaver won the western division and the playoff game with a final of 79-63.

Fetchin recorded a double-double on the night putting up 24 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Kubis followed with 16 points and 4 steals and sophomore Chancelor Humphrey (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell) recorded 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Beaver (15-2, 19-6), will travel to State College, PA for the PSUAC final four. The game will take place on Monday, February 23rd at 6:30 p.m.  They will take on #5 seed DuBois who defeated #4 seed Penn College Thursday night 91-88.