Despite giving Coach Tharp a few more gray hairs by making way too many turnovers (40) in their season opener in Sharon, PA, on Wednesday night, the Golden Eagles dominated where it counted---on the scoreboard and in the scoring stats---as they came home 101-76 winners over host Penn State Shenango.
The Eagles shot the ball better than the Lions, ruled the glass, nearly doubled the Lions scoring in the paint and got more point production from their bench as they dominated the game in all phases from start to finish. All 13 Golden Eagles players scored in the game.
KSU Tusc wasted no time as they jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first 1:30 of the game on a Braden Rosted three-ball from the right corner, followed by a London Cobbs foul shot after getting fouled heading for a lay-up and a DeJuan Lawrence put back off a Kyle Shockley steal.
A 7-0 run after a Shenango basket and free throw ran the lead to 13-3, but the Lions scored four straight points to trim the deficit to 13-7. That was however, as close as they would get the rest of the night as the clock still glared brightly showing 15:36 still left to play in the opening half.
A Kameron Shockley dunk on a fast break and another Rostad bomb gave the Eagles an 11-point lead (22-11) as they rode a 15-6 run to a 32-17 lead. They pushed the margin to 22 points at 44-22 before the first half ended with the Eagles firmly in command 44-27. The final half of play was not even close as the Eagles wore down Shenango.
For the game, Lawrence led the Eagles with a double-double performance scoring 15 points and clearing 19 rebounds. He also made 7/9 free throw chances. Kameron Shockley added 14 points on 6/10 shooting from the field, Rostad had 12 points making 3/7 three-point tries, Cobbs scored 11 tallies and grabbed nine boards and Kyle Shockley added 10 points making 6/7 charity tosses as all five KSU Tusc starters scored in double figures.
KSU Tusc shot 48% from the floor compared to 29% for the Lions, outrebounded Shenango 56-34, dished out more assists (16-6), got 39 points from their bench---18 points better than the hosts---and ruled the paint with a 52-28 point scoring margin.
The Eagles open their home schedule on Saturday when they host Clark State in a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
Braden Rostad scored 12 points and sank three triples agianst the Lions.
(Photo by Patty Tolloti)