On Saturday, Jan. 20, the Penn State Wilkes-Barre men's basketball team played Penn State Mont Alto at 4 p.m. at home. Scoring was very close from the start, #20 sophomore Anton Berga (Queens, New York/Martin Luther High School) making the first three points for the team on a three-point shot. 

With multiple free throws and layups, the Mountain Lions maintained an even pace with their opponents. The score was tied multiple times within the first half, and neither team was backing down. 

With six and a half minutes on the clock, #15 senior Wilvens Fleurizard made a layup, putting the score at 22-20 Wilkes-Barre. Mont Alto quickly regained the points, however, and the ongoing closeness in scoring remained.

After Fleurizard tied the game with a layup, the Mountain Lions pulled ahead in the last two minutes of the half. After #25 senior Allen Ozojie (Union, New Jersey/Brookdale C.C.) made a free throw, the score of the half was 33-30 Wilkes-Barre. 

Although Mont Alto was the first to score in the second half, #12 senior Jalen Willis (Baltimore, Maryland/Genesse C.C.) was close behind, answering with a layup. Throughout the half, scoring stayed even, both teams meeting each other stride for stride. 

Mont Alto gained the lead, but the Mountain Lions were confident to return the points. Fleurizard made both of his free throws, giving Wilkes-Barre their lead once again. 

The score was 69-68 for Wilkes-Barre in the last minute of the game, and the battle for the win raged on. Although short on time, each second counted for the Mountain Lions and proved valuable, #13 junior Jedidiah Ashton (Brooklyn, New York/Monroe College) making the last two points of the game on his free throws. 

The final score was 79-74 Wilkes-Barre. Top points scorers of the game were Jedidiah Ashton with 14, Wilvens Fleurizard with 14, and #4 junior Rashod Ballard with 13 (Largo, Maryland/Ann Arundel C.C.). 

Written by Kyler Burke