January 12, 2009 - Geneva College
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January 12, 2009

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Van Zanic

Director of Sports Information

(724) 847-6886

vgzanic@geneva.edu

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2009

WINNING WAYS SHORT-LIVED WITH LOSS

AT PENN STATE BEAVER

Monaca, PA - Geneva College′s men′s basketball team had put to rest a four-game losing streak with a complete game victory over Waynesburg University on Saturday. The unfortunate part of the story is that the Golden Tornadoes didn′t get much time to celebrate. Geneva went back to work on Monday night against cross-town rival Penn State Beaver and for the first time in the short series between the local combatants; Penn State got the best of Geneva by the score of 71-66. The loss pushed Geneva′s overall record to 3-10, including five losses in the last six games.

Geneva came into the game with a 7-1 lead in the all-time series with the only loss chalked up to a Geneva forfeit after it had unknowingly played an ineligible player back in 2004. Tonight marked the first time a Penn State Beaver team has defeated the Golden Tornadoes on the court. It certainly didn′t come easy for Penn State as late in the game it appeared Geneva College had things in hand. In fact, led by 13 points at the half and extended that lead to as much as 16 points with just under 16 minutes left to play. The Golden Tornadoes maintained a nine point lead midway through the second half. "We just turned the ball over way too much late in the game," said Geneva College head coach Jeff Santarsiero. "They hit shots when they had to, but this is a game that we gave away and we just lost our defensive intensity late in the game."

Defensive problems have plagued Geneva throughout the first half of the season but through the first 20 minutes on Monday, the Golden Tornadoes held Penn State to just 24 points. Offensively, David Phillips was filling up the basket with 17 first half points. Unfortunately, Phillips managed just three in the second half to finish with a team best 20 points. Rich Colick chipped in with 16 points, but it wasn′t enough as Penn State got the victory. Matt Franitti, who transferred to Penn State from Geneva after his freshman season, scored 15 points and was 3-3 from three-point range on the night.

It wasn′t until the 1:20 mark of the second half that Penn State was able to wrestle the lead away from Geneva. A lane violation and a missed foul shot didn′t help Geneva′s cause in the final minutes as Penn State was able to hang on for the win. Geneva saw its opponent more than double its offensive output in the second half with 47 points in the final 20 minutes.

Geneva once again will not get much time to ponder Monday′s loss as it will return home on Wednesday night to face Thomas More College in a PAC showdown. The Golden Tornadoes begin a stretch that will see them at home in four of the next five games.

Jan 12, 2009