Lions Defeat Geneva College, 71-66

By Alonna Verrico

The Penn State Beaver Nittany Lions men's basketball team hosted and defeated the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes, 71-66, on Friday, Jan. 12.

Geneva began with a 9-2 run, but Beaver tied the game, 16-16, at the 15-minute mark with an 8-0 run sparked by freshman Tony Houghton (Perry Traditional Academy, Pittsburgh, PA). The Lions and the Tornadoes exchanged field goals until the 5-minute mark when Geneva went on an 18-2 run. Beaver cut the lead to 11 but Geneva was up, 37-24, at the end of the first half on a buzzer-beating tip-in.

In the second half, the Lions came back on an 11-2 run. Beaver brought the score within 3 points, but didn't move ahead until junior Tim Kubis (Hopewell High School, Aliquippa, PA) hit a 20-foot jump to tie the game, 63-63. 

Geneva came back with a field goal, but Beaver sophomore Chancelor Humphrey (Hopewell High School, Aliquippa, PA) converted two free throws to tie the game, 65-65. Geneva hit a final free throw to go up 66-65, but Beaver gained the win in the final minutes as sophomore David McGarry (Poland Seminary High School, Poland, OH) scored a layup to move Beaver ahead by 1 point. The Lions ended the game with four clutch free throws by junior Zach Fetchin (Hopewell High School, Aliquippa, PA) for the win.

Senior guard Matt Franitti (Blackhawk High School, Beaver Falls, PA) was 3-3 from 3-point range and led the Lions with 15 total points followed by Houghton and Fetchin with 14 points each.

Beaver is 5-1 in the PSUAC and 7-3 overall. On Friday, Jan. 16 the Lions will travel to Penn State Hazleton for a conference game at 8 p.m.