Men’s Basketball unable to capitalize on second half comeback against Penn State Altoona

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball lost a close 82-79 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contest to Penn State Altoona at Donahue Pavilion Wednesday night.

Jimmy Giannetta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Saint Joseph HS) led the Celtics with 20 points and six assists. Tavin Adamson (Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley HS/El Camino College) shot 4 for 4 from three with 14 points, and Clayton Cook (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area HS) sank three treys and contributed 13 points. The Celtics (1-15, 1-6 AMCC) scored 13 three-pointers on the night and shot better percentage-wise from the field at 42.9 percent (29 for 59). Carlow outrebounded Altoona, 40-37.

The Celtics led the first 10 minutes of the first half, and a three-pointer from Jordan McClure (Louisville, Ky./Atherton HS) gave Carlow its largest lead of the game, 25-16.

The Lions (7-7, 1-4 AMCC) went on a 14-3 run over the next four minutes to gain a 30-28 advantage. Aleel Batts (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area HS) quickly tied the game at 30-all with a jumper, and neither team scored for over a minute-and-a-half until Giannetta hit a trey to give the Celtics the lead once again.

Altoona regained the lead, and Carlow stayed close behind until a dunk from Tomasi Pavihi (Wellington, New Zealand/St. Mary's Ryken HS/College of Marin) tied the game at 41 with 18 seconds remaining in the half. A last-second foul sent the Lions to the line, affording them a marginal 43-41 advantage heading into intermission.

Altoona held Carlow scoreless for the first three minutes of the second half before Cook landed a three-pointer to cut the Lions' lead to five.

The Lions continued to gain momentum, building to a 14-point lead with 12:48 left in the half.

Carlow battled on, and a layup from Cook at 9:03 set off a 15-3 run for the Celtics over the span of six minutes. Trailing 74-72 with under three minutes remaining in regulation, a three-pointer from McClure put Carlow up, 75-74.

The teams traded leads, with Carlow ahead 77-76 after Giannetta drained a pair of free throws. With under a minute left to play, an Altoona trey gave the Lions a 79-77 lead, with the Celtics forced to foul to regain possession. Altoona sank both free throws, and although Carlow landed a layup to trail by two, just seven seconds remainder on the clock. The Celtics were unable to produce a buzzer-beater, and the Lions held on for the win.

Turnovers proved costly, with Altoona scoring 28 points off 21 Carlow miscues.

Nehemiah Frye and Kaden Claar scored half of the Lions' points with 21 and 20, respectively.

Carlow hosts Pitt Bradford for a 4 p.m. AMCC game at Donahue Pavilion Jan. 17.