Hazleton Edges out Wildcats 62-60

 WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – It was déjà vu all over again as the Pennsylvania College of Technology men's basketball team dropped a tight game to Penn State Hazleton 62-60.  The Wildcats lost 57-56 to Hazleton earlier in the season.  Freshman Colton Acorn (Wellsboro) had a personal high 20 points to lead all scorers.  Freshman Scott Fenton (Dickson City) added 15 while sophomore Ethan Kline (Hazleton) had 13.

Penn College (2-16, 2-7 PSUAC) trailed early as the Lions came out on an 8-2 run, three each from Danny Fogarty and Mike Taylor.  Penn College hung tough and went on a 6-0 run later in the half to make it 18-16 with 8:15 remaining.  

The Wildcats tied it up three times in the final minutes before going into the half down just 32-31.  In the half, the Wildcats shot .536 (15-28) from the field and out-rebounded Hazleton 16-12.

In the second, Fenton hit a jumper at 16:23 to cap off a 5-0 run and take a 35-32 lead.  The Lions' Mark Scarcella hit back to back threes to give his team the lead.

Hazleton finished the game shooting .423 (11-26) from the arc.

Freshman Azeez Sulaimon (Burtonsville, Md.) hit a free throw at 10:10 to give the Wildcats their biggest lead of the game at 45-40.  They held onto the lead until Fogarty hit a three with just over a minute to play making it 58-56.  Acorn made a free throw to tie it at 60 with 23 seconds remaining but missed his second attempt to take a lead.  Fogarty's layup with two seconds left sealed the victory as the Wildcats could not answer with a shot before time ran out.  

Fogarty ended the game with 12 while Alex Akabogu led Hazleton with 15 points. 

 Next up, Penn College travels to Penn State Wilkes Barre for an 8 p.m. game on Thursday, Feb. 2.                                                            -PCT-