PITTSBURGH, Pa. – After facing a 20-point deficit in the first half on Saturday, the Lions were unable to make up for the missing points in the second, causing a loss against the Point Park Bison, 84-62. This nonconference contest drops the Lions to 1-10 overall.
With all of their starters putting up numbers, the Bison had an early advantage over the Lions in the first half of play. Although the Lions kept in the Bison's range for most of the half, the Bison then broke away with eight minutes left on the clock and secured their lead over the Lions. At 7:17, the Bison were up 33-18, and continued their run. The Bison connected on 16 of 35 field goals, while the Lions went 9 for 31. The Bison had 20 attempts from behind the arc, sinking in eight. Garret McHenry paced the Bison with 11 points. The Lions were down 44-24 at the end of the first.
Although the Lions only got outscored by two points in the second half, the first half put them in a tough position. The Lions and Bison both put in 12 field goals, but the Bison landed themselves 3 of 14 three-pointers, while the Lions hit 2 of 11. At 6:50, the Bison gained their largest lead of the game, 74-46, after Chris Muir put in a jump shot. Jahi Ogbonna (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Allderdice) was the forefront for the Lions during the half, producing 13 points.
Ogbonna ended the contest with 15 points, while Jamison Nee (Natrona Heights, Pa./ Highlands) followed with 14 and totaled up three assists. Hasaan Ismaeli (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Nazareth Prep) compiled 13 points, and led with seven rebounds.
For the Bison, Garret found success with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Juan Willis, Jesse Calloway, and Doug Alves each had four assists.
The Lions will head out to Kent St. Tuscarawas on Saturday, Jan. 11 for a 3 p.m. matchup, and the Bison will travel to Washington Adventist University on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Written by Janet Surma