KSU Tusc had an impressive basketball game against Penn State Beaver on Tuesday night in Founders Hall Gym. The Golden Eagles were challenged very early in the game but took control to secure a convincing 96-77 win over the visiting Lions. Kameron Shockley's outstanding double-double performance, especially in the second half, played a significant role in the team's success as Beaver had no answer for his inspired play.
After battling to a 14-14 tie through the first 7:08 of the game, the Golden Eagles used a crucial 16-3 run over a five-minute period to build a lead they never relinquished in a lopsided win that felt like anything other than a blowout.
The Lions were the early aggressors until a Kameron Shockley lay in at the 11:53 mark gave KSU Tusc their first lead of the game 16-14. He poured in eight points during the spurt highlighted by wicked crossover in the lane, two Ethan Bower long distance calls from behind the three-point arc and a lay in by Mekhi Johnson off a rip and run defensive rebound. Shockley finished the streak with a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Javier Ward with 7:48 showing to increase the advantage to 30-17.
They led to 40-25 before suffering a three-minute power failure that allowed Beaver to get to within 40-33 with 2:30 left in the half. KSU Tusc capped off the waning moments with a pair of free throws and off balance shot in the lane by Ed Daniels, along with a Kyle Shockley dunk for a little breathing room at the intermission (46-35).
Beaver established themselves again at the start of the second half and made a deep cut into navy and gold's lead trailing just 54-50 with 15:53 left on the clock. The Lions made their move by putting up 15 points in the early going while the Eagles were mired in binge of turnovers and could manage just two buckets.
Over the next eight minutes however, the Eagles busted out of the stall and motored off on a 23-8 tear to build a substantial 77-58 lead. Four different players sank three-balls during the eruption to vault KSU Tusc to their largest lead of the game at the 7:53 mark, but the Lions still had no escape route as Kameron Shockley took control of the game and scored a boat load of the Golden Eagles second half points. Credit also goes to a relentless Tusc defense that harassed Beaver into 21 turnovers which turned into 31 KSU points.
Kameron and Kyle Shockley accounted for 15 of KSU Tusc's points during a 17-10 run over the final eight minutes, while two huge triples by the elder Shockley from the top of the key staked the lead to 89-68. A total of seven triples buoyed a 50-point second half Eagles outburst in the 19-point victory.
Kameron Shockley led all scorers with 32 points---19 in the second half---and hauled down 12 rebounds, while Mekhi Johnson added 13 and Kyle Shockley 12.
At 6-3 on the season, KSU Tusc has won three straight games and is gearing up for a date with NCAA DII Central State University on Saturday, December 9th at 3 pm.
Kameron Shockley scored 32 points and creates an opportunity for his teammates while Mekhi Johnson winds up for a slam against the Lions.
Ethan Bower and Kyle Shockley harass a Lions shooter in the lane, while Kyle gets fouled on a dunk for a three-point play.
(Photos by Lindsey Nicholson)