ALTOONA, PA. -- Sophomore Jeremiah Thomas (Cleveland/John Hay) posted a new career-high in points and rebounds to lead the Hiram College men's basketball team past Penn State-Altoona 54-42 on Saturday afternoon.

The Terriers remain perfect on the season at 5-0, while the Lions drop to 2-3.

Thomas scored 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting and also pulled down eight rebounds, bettering his previous bests of 13 points and six boards.

Senior Josh Edmondson (Euclid/Twinsburg) added eight points and freshman Jantsen Locke (Minerva) scored seven points off the bench.

The Lions jumped out to a early 16-10 lead with 11:51 left in the first half.

But it was all Hiram from there, as the Terriers closed the first half on a 20-4 run to take a 30-20 advantage into the break.

Hiram would score the first five points of the second half, on a layup by junior Austen Rekolt (Salem/West Branch) and a 3-pointer by Edmondson, to open up a 35-20 lead.

A 3-pointer by Locke with 7:15 left to play gave the Terriers their largest lead of the game at 48-32.

The Lions would get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Hiram finished 21-of-58 (36.2 percent) from the field, while Penn State-Altoona was just 17-of-56 (30.4 percent).

The Lions won the rebounding battle by a slim 36-35 margin.

The Terriers forced 24 turnovers in the contest, that led to 19 points.

Hiram will return to action on Wednesday, when it opens NCAC play at home against Allegheny (Pa.). Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. and will follow the women's NCAC opener against Allegheny at 6 p.m.