On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre men's basketball team played Bucks County Community College at 8 p.m. as their opening to the spring semester. Although Bucks got the first two points of the game, #4 junior Rashod Ballard (Largo, Maryland/Ann Arundel C.C.) immediately matched the pace, putting two on the board for Wilkes-Barre.
#12 senior Jalen Willis (Baltimore, Maryland/Genesse C.C.) made a layup after being uncontested down the court. #13 junior Jedidiah Ashton (Brooklyn, New York/Monroe College) quickly put six points on the board from two layups and a jump shot. His scoring streak proved to continue as the game progressed.
Fresh on the court for the Mountain Lions was #15 Wilvens Fleurizard, a guard/forward (Tamarac, Florida/PSU Schuylkill). During the first half of the game, he made four layups and showed strong defense at the three-point arc, keeping Bucks from scoring.
#25 senior Allen Ozojie (Union, New Jersey/Brookdale C.C.) made an incredible save by knocking the ball away at the backboard, keeping a Bucks plyer from scoring. Jalen Willis received a pass and pivoted at the net, finishing as a layup. Willis also assisted in a layup by passing the ball to Fleurizard.
It was clear from the beginning that the Mountain Lions were in for a close game but made sure to have a lead before the end of the first half. At the end of the half, Wilkes-Barre was ten points ahead with a score of 39-29.
The second half of the game was a flurry of dunks, Ozojie making two and #20 sophomore Anton Berga (Queens, New York/Martin Luther HS) making one. #33 senior Chase Monroe (Schenectady, New York/SUNY Ulster C.C.) made an attempted layup at the net, where Wilvens Fleurizard came to tap the ball in on the rebound.
At the end of the second quarter, the final score was 93-73 Wilkes-Barre. Top points scorers of the game were Jedidiah Ashton with 31, Jalen Willis with 17, and Wilvens Fleurizard with 14.
The Mountain Lions have their next game at home agaisnt Penn State Mont Alto on Saturday, Jan 20, at 4 p.m.
Written by Kyler Burke