SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 22, 2024) – The Western New England men's basketball team picked up a 71-66 victory on Friday night from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center over the Lions from Penn State University Altoona in the Hamtpon Inn Holiday Classic, hosted by WNE for the fifth straight season. With the win, the Golden Bears advance to their tournament's championship game on Saturday afternoon.

Records:

• Western New England: 3-2
• Penn State Altoona: 3-2

How it Happened:

The Lions of Penn State Altoona dropped four of the first five points in the tournament's opening game on Friday night, as Dwayne Jones would pick up his first four of the game on his opening two shots. The Golden Bears would look to Cody Palazzesi to even the score at six when the junior dropped a three less than four minutes into the game. Western New England would be riddled by turnovers in the early part of the first half. The Golden Bears committed seven turnovers in the first ten minutes of the contest though escaped with a five-point lead after Matt Houde would cash in from deep while the junior would take the ball to the hoop to score a layup on an assist from Luka Vlajkovic, giving the Golden Bears a 15-10 lead with 9:51 to play in the opening half. Western New England's lead would grow to as many as ten in the first half after Nate Kasper would hit from three while Arik Dagan would collect two free throws to give the Golden Bears a 22-12 lead with just less than seven minutes to play in the first 20 minutes. Western New England would continue to find success in keeping their turnover count down in the second half of the first half while the WNE offense shot 50% from the floor overall. Brian Geitner, Will Laplante III, and Cody Palazzesi would contribute in the final four minutes of the first for the Golden Bears that gave Western New England a 35-22 opening half lead. PSU Altoona shot just 33% from the field in the first half, hitting just eight shots, three of which came from distance. Western New England was successful from deep, knocking down four triples and 12 field goals overall.

The Lions started off the second half on a 12-2 run to dwindle Western New England's lead from a 12-point advantage to just a one-point lead. Nehemiah Frye picked up two buckets for the Lions to help Altoona get right back in the game. Luka Vlajkovic would get on the scoreboard for the first time in the game to break Altoona's run, though the Lions would come away with the next four points to take their first lead in the game since the score showed 10-8. Kay-El Gentles would pick up a pair of free throws to give the Lions a four-point lead. Western New England would take exception to the mini-lions run, putting up a 9-0 run of their own to retake the lead, 52-47 with 9:05 to play in the final half. Brian Geitner would strike for five points, including his lone triple of the game, while Vlajkovic and Nate Kasper would get back-to-back layups inside the paint. Altoona would not go quietly, however, though a big three-pointer from Cody Palazzesi would bring WNE's lead back up to seven with 4:52 to play with the Golden Bears taking a 61-54 lead. PSU would get back within one, putting a scare into Western New England though six straight points from Geitner would help the Golden Bears begin to break away from the Lions in the final stages of the game, Tim Restall picked up two assists of the three layups from Geitner while Kasper had the final layup of the game, as Altoona would not score for the final 1:21 of the game, seeing Western New England get by the Lions by a final score of 71-66.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears shot even better from the field in the second half, shooting 17/31, 54%. WNE was far less successful from three in the second half, however, dropping just 2/10 shots.
• Brian Geitner grabbed 17 points in the game on 7/15 shooting while also picking up three rebounds and two steals.
• Cody Palazzesi sparked the Golden Bears with three triples and 13 points in the win.
• Both Tim Restall (11 points) and Luka Vlajkovic (10 points) were also both in double figures for Western New England in the game.
• PSU's Kaden Claar led the way with 13 points for the lions. Four of five PSU starters were in double figures in scoring on the night.
• The WNE bench outscored Penn State Altoona 28-13, while Western New England had 42 points in the paint to Altoona's 24.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will take on the winner of the second game of the tournament, Ramapo College, in the Hampton Inn Holiday Classic Championship Game on Saturday, November 23 at 2:00 PM.