Schenzel Earns 100th Win in Season Opening Victory Over Davis College

By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto men's basketball team erased an early 8-7 deficit and never trailed again enroute to an 82-66 victory over Davis College in its first game of the John E. Benchoff Tournament. The win also marked the 100^th career victory for head coach Jack Schenzel who is in the midst of his seventh season at the helm of the program.

Inside the Box Score

• Jalen Smith (Ranson, W. Va. / Jefferson) led all scorers with a team-high 24 points. Smith was also the lone player of the game to record a double-double after grabbing 10 rebounds for the Nittany Lions.
• Marcus Roper (Charles Town, W. Va. / Jefferson) shook off a cold start from the field to finish 7-of-14 for 18 points. He added five boards, two assists and a pair of steals.
• Leading the way for Davis College was Anthony Gathings with 19 points and seven rebounds.
• The Mont Alto defense suffocated the Falcons attack holding the visitors to 37.5% (24-for-64) from the field and 20.7% (6-for-29) from three-point range. The Nittany Lions also forced 19 turnovers and scored 23 points off them.

How it Happened

• With both teams pressing from the offset, the Nittany Lions defense finally began to wear on Davis towards the tail end of the first half and it carried a 41-29 lead into the break.
• Mont Alto's defense held Davis to 28.6% shooting from the field in the first half and out-rebounded the visitors 25-22.
• The Falcons clawed their way back into the game by getting to the free throw line in the second half. Davis College made it a nine-point game after a Corban Ursey layup with 4:51 left, which forced a Schenzel timeout.
• The Lions once again pulled away down the stretch due in large part to Roper who made a clutch three-pointer and transition layup.
• Jordan Gillis (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East), Quintyn Flemister (Harrisburg, Pa. / Harrisburg) and Javon Mitchell (Lancaster, Pa. / Hempfield) each made their colligate debuts for a combined 20 minutes off the bench.

Penn State Mont Alto improves to 1-0 on the 2017-18 season and return to action tomorrow against Williamson College of the Trades as part of the Benchoff Tournament at 4 p.m.