MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - The Penn State Harrisburg men's basketball team opened up the 2010-11 season Monday night at home against local non-conference opponent Elizabethtown College. Kenton Alston's (Harrisburg, PA/Steel-High) game high 29 points wasn't enough to overcome the Blue Jays as the Lions fell 70-83.
The Blue Jays jumped out with an early 7-0 run forcing a Nittany Lion time out to regroup. The Lions fought back into the game to bring it within one point and entered halftime down by just six points. The Lions opened up the second half strong keeping the game within two points as they exchanged field goals for the first 8 minutes. Elizabethtown went on a run 13-4 run late in the second half to take a 14 point lead and never looked back.
The Lions shot 43% from the floor and 70% from the free throw line on the night. Alongside Alston's 29 point performance, Steve Jones (Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg) contributed 14 points, 4 steals and 4 rebounds in Monday night's home opener. Nick Liddell (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) also added 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Elizabethtown produced an even performance as four players scored in double figures. Keith Fogel led the Blue Jays scoring effort with 17 points while Joe Flanagan added 15 points and Brian Allport and Andrew Mantz each registered 13. The Blue Jays shot an impressive 60% from the floor in the second half and dominated the glass as they grabbed 41 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive.
Penn State Harrisburg will be participating in the Lebanon Valley College Tip-Off Tournament this weekend and will face Lebanon Valley on Friday, November 19th at 8:00 PM. If the Lions win they will face the winner of Friday night's Deleware Valley/Richard Stockton game and if they lose they will face the loser of the same game.