HAZLETON, Pa.—Senior guard Luke Hawk (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) scored a season-high 24 points to lift The University of Scranton to a 79-54 victory over Penn State-Hazleton Saturday afternoon at the Physical Education Complex.
The Royals, who shot a season-high 58.8 percent from the field, also received 12 points and six rebounds from senior guard Zach Ashworth (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West), 11 points from freshman guard Tommy Morgan (Greenlawn, N.Y./Chaminade), and seven points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals from sophomore guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) to win their second straight game and improve to 4-2.
Freshman forward Eric Radishofski (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton Area) led the Nittany Lions, now 0-9, with 12 points and five rebounds and freshman guard Leron Kosh (Christiana {Del.} H.S.) finished with 11 points, four steals and three assists.
Scranton, playing its first game since breaking for final exams after last Saturday's 63-42 victory over Moravian College, took control early, making 9 of their first 13 shots attempts to build up a 27-10 lead with 10:20 remaining in the first half. Scranton eventually connected on 18 of 30 field goal attempts (60 percent) to take a 43-30 lead by intermission.
The Royals did maintain a comfortable lead throughout much of the second half, but got a little sloppy hanging on to the basketball, which allowed the Nittany Lions to get within striking distance, 63-50, with 6:06 left. Scranton then ended the game with a 16-4 spurt to set the final score.
Hawk connected on 9 of 12 shots from the field and finished with six rebounds and two blocks in 28 minutes of action. His 24-point effort was his highest scoring output since a career-high 29-point performance in a 75-71 loss to Misericordia University on November 25, 2008, at the Anderson Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
The Royals will return to action this Monday, December 13, against Kean University at Harwood Arena, in Union, New Jersey, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The game will be carried by WUSR, 99.5 FM, and over the Internet at WUSRFM.com, with veteran announcer Dean Corwin calling all the action.
News & Notes: The Royals now lead the all-time series with Penn State-Hazleton, 3-0…Scranton committed 11 of its 17 turnovers in the second half…Farrell's eight assists were a career-high…the Royals will play their final game before the holiday break this Wednesday, December 15, against Cabrini College at 7:30 p.m. in the Long Center…Wednesday's game will be a doubleheader with the Lady Royals taking on Cabrini at 5:30 pm…former Lady Royal standout point-guard Kate (Pierangeli) Pearson is in her second season as head coach at Cabrini.
Newspaper Box Score
SCRANTON 79, PENN ST.-HAZLETON 54
SCRANTON (4-2)
Luke Hawk 9-12 4-5 24; Zach Ashworth 5-9 0-0 12; Tommy Morgan 4-6 1-2 11; Matt Swaback 2-3 5-7 9; Travis Farrell 3-6 1-1 7; Edmond O'Connell 2-4 0-0 5; Andrew Wynne 2-3 0-0 4; Pat Mineo 1-1 0-0 3; Nick Jaskula 1-1 0-0 2; Dan Hilferty 1-4 0-0 2; Mike Marchman 0-1 0-0 0; Tim Lavelle 0-1 0-0 0. Totals
30-51 11-15 79.
PENN ST.-HAZLETON (0-9)
Eric Radishofski 3-6 6-6 12; Leron Kosh 4-11 3-4 11; Casey Petty 3-15 0-0 9; Mike Abramcheck 3-6 0-0 9; Brandon Boekel 3-4 0-0 6; Mike Taylor 1-2 2-2 4; Diego Jimenez 1-1 0-0 3; Gerald Anthony 0-0 0-0 0; Brian Campbell 0-0 0-0 0; Ian Simmons 0-0 0-0 0; Leonard Graham 0-3 0-0 0; Donny Fletcher 0-1 0-2 0.
Totals 18-49 11-14 54.
The University of Scranton.... 43 36 - 79
Penn St.-Hazleton............. 30 24 - 54
3-point goals--The University of Scranton 8-21 (Zach Ashworth 2-5; Luke Hawk 2-3; Tommy Morgan 2-3; Pat Mineo 1-1; Edmond O'Connell 1-1; Dan Hilferty 0-3; Tim Lavelle 0-1; Travis Farrell 0-3; Matt Swaback 0-1), Penn St.-Hazleton 7-23 (Casey Petty 3-12; Mike Abramcheck 3-6; Diego Jimenez 1-1; Leonard Graham 0-1; Leron Kosh 0-3). Fouled out--The University of Scranton-None, Penn St.-Hazleton-None. Rebounds--The University of Scranton 33 (Travis Farrell 7), Penn St.-Hazleton 22 (Donny Fletcher 6). Assists--The University of Scranton 24 (Travis Farrell 8), Penn St.-Hazleton 9 (Brandon Boekel 3; Leron Kosh 3). Total fouls--The University of Scranton 14, Penn St.-Hazleton 14. Technical fouls--The University of Scranton-None, Penn St.-Hazleton-None. A-150