Box Score STEUBENVILLE, OH - Five Barons score in double figures for the Barons, but the Lions strong first half holds up for the victory.

The Basics
Scores: Franciscan 75 -  Penn St. Altoona 85
Records: Franciscan (6-12 , 5-8 AMCC) - Penn St. Altoona (12-5, 5-5 AMCC) 
Location: Kuzma Court, Steubenville, OH

How it Happened

• The first couple minutes of this half were back and forth as it would be 7-7 after nearly four minutes of play. Justin Mack would make a three pointer to give the Barons the early lead.The Lions would wake up as they went on a 7-0 run to claim the lead, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the half. The Barons would battle to keep it close as they would be within five most of the half until the last five minutes. The Lions would go on a 14-3 run to end the half  with a 15 point lead.
• The Lions came out strong in the second half as they would stretch the lead up to 54-32 with 15:13 to play, but the Barons would respond, as they would give reason to the Kuzma Krazies to get loud. A 14-0 run would enuse over the next three minutes. Joe Schriner and Matt Trent would make a pair of buckets, and Andrew Salasek made a shot to make it a 54-44 game with 11:34 to play. Jack Kuster responded for the Lions as he hit back to back threes, two of his seven made threes on the night. The Barons would respond once more as they would turn the 16 point deficit to only six points, as Travis Lien would get going and score nine points over the next three minutes. An Altoona 5-0 run silenced the crowd to give the Lions a 10 point lead with 1:53 left in the game. Mack would hit a three to cut it to single digits, but the Lions repeatedly broke the Baron press to score easy buckets and control this one till the buzzer

Inside The Box Score

• Jack Kusters scored a game high 27 points, going 7 of 8 from three as well.
• Cameron Gardner-Nicholson and Andruw Harman each had five blocks on the night.
• Five Barons scored in double figures, led by Matt Trent's 16 points.
• Trent now with 969 career points, moved into 20th place in points all-time at Franciscan.
• The Lions shot 56.3% from three, the highest three point field goal percentage by a Baron opponent all season.

Up Next
The Barons continue their five game home stand on Saturday as they face Penn St. Behrend at 2 pm. Franciscan fell to Behrend 71-81 earlier this month.