TERESA DULAC
SPORTS EDITOR
The Barons men’s basketball team played a fast-paced home game against Penn State Altoona Wednesday at 6 p.m., never getting ahead but playing with intensity.
The game started out with the Barons shooting a 3-pointer within the first minute, and at 17 minutes sophomore forward Travis Lien block Altoona’s shot and brought it down the court for a layup.
At 13 minutes, senior center Matt Trent shot a 3-pointer, putting the score at 16-13, Altoona.
At 10 minutes, the score was 23-18, Altoona continuing to lead.
Junior guard Sean Hickey took the ball up to the basket and scored a plus 1 at 8:40 minutes, making the score 25-21, Altoona.
At seven minutes, senior guard John Noce stole the ball and took it down the court for a layup, and the score became 29-23, Altoona.
Altoona continued to score until the one-minute mark score was 25-43 Altoona. Both teams attempted to dunk in the last minute, and the Barons scored in the last few seconds of the first period, which ended 43-28, Altoona.
The halftime show had a baton twirler who dedicated her performance to recently deceased Kobe Bryant, twirling a baton and basketball to a speech given by Bryant.
The second period began and by 18 minutes the score was 48-30, Altoona.
After many turnovers and scrabbling for the ball with no scoring on the Barons’ side, senior forward Joe Schriner scored at 15 minutes, making the score 54-32 Altoona.
Franciscan picked up the pace and by 11 minutes the score was 54-44 Altoona.
At nine minutes, Lien made a great layup, making the score 60-50 Altoona, with a continued 10–point gap.
The Barons stole the ball many times, causing a lot of turnovers, and began to catch up to Altoona.
At three minutes there was a lot of confusion about a foul when one of Franciscan’s players collided with an Altoona player. After a full timeout, the score was 73-65.
The Barons fought hard till the end despite many fouls on both sides. At 30 seconds, the score stood 84-72 Altoona.
At 25 seconds, Noce shot a 3-pointer, making the score 84-75 Altoona.
The last seconds of the game were played with lots of turnovers and attempts at scoring before Altoona held the ball until the time ran out. The final score was 86-75 Altoona.
“I thought our fight in the second half was courageous,” said head coach Joe Wallace, “I just would have rather us come out with that energy earlier; that’s what I would have liked.”
The Barons men’s basketball team’s next home game is Saturday at 2 p.m. against Penn State Behrend.