The ACPHS Men's Basketball team got the 2018-19 season underway on Saturday, falling to the Penn State Scranton Nittany Lions 100-94 at the Albert M. White Gymnasium in Albany.

The Panthers started the game hot, jumping out to a ten-point lead in the opening five minutes thanks in large part to two three-pointers from senior guard Kyle Matousek (Jordan-Elbridge, NY / Jordan Elbridge HS). The lead was cut down quickly, as the Nittany Lions went on a 9-0 run to make the score 15-14 just two minutes later.

The game was played at frantic pace thereafter, with the teams trading buckets for the rest of the half. Leading the way for the Panthers was junior guard Naythan Beltran (Reading, PA / Antietam HS), who finished the half with 11 points on 5-13 shooting. Albany shot 40.4% (19-47) from the field in the first 20 minutes, and went into the break down 51-50.

Beltran scored the first points of the second half to give the Panthers a one-point lead, but it was the last lead they'd see all day. The teams were tied at 60 at the 15:09 mark, but the Nittany Lions raced out ahead after they went on a 15-3 run in the next three minutes. This ended up being all that Penn State needed, as ACPHS could only come within five points of them the rest of the day.

The Panthers finished the game with five players in double figures: Beltran, who had a game-high 22, Matousek, juniors Evan Georgio (Bayside, NY / Archbishop Molloy) and Edward Ahanmisi (Vancouver, BC / Bodwell High), and freshman Joel Martineau (Ausable Forks, NY Ausable Valley HS). Georgio also posted a game-high 15 rebounds, while Beltran and Ahanmisi each recorded six steals. ACPHS outscored the Lions 50-32 in points in the paint, but were mostly done in by the 26 turnovers they committed.

Penn State was led by junior Brody Dial, who scored 22 points and added seven assists. The Nittany Lions had seven players finish in double figures and outscored the Panthers in bench scoring 37-22.

ACPHS is back in action this Thursday, Nov. 8^th when they host Byrant & Stratton College-Liverpool at 8pm. Live stats for that game will be available on acphsathletics.com.