(MIDDLETOWN, Pa.) – Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) toasted the nets for 20 points and
Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point / Southern Maryland) reeled in a double-double, but it wasn't enough as Wilson fell to Penn State Harrisburg on Wednesday. After the Nittany Lions pulled ahead in the first half, the Phoenix had a second half resurgence before running out of time.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 59, Penn State Harrisburg 68
Venue: Capital Union Building
Records: Wilson 5-9, 3-2 UE; Penn State Harrisburg 8-6, 5-1 UE
How It Happened
- It was a defensive struggle for both sides for the opening seven minutes of the game. For the Phoenix, a 3-pointer by Keys and a jumper by Nirobi Peeler Jr. (Jr., Largo, Fla. / Clearwater / Millersville) kept them within a point at 6-5. However, the Nittany Lions proceeded to go on a 16-0 run that eventually was quieted by a trey from Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant & Stratton). The momentum persisted and Harrisburg used it to take a 33-16 lead into the halftime break.
- The Phoenix caught a hot streak at the start of the second half as triples by Keys and Gary Robertson (Gr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) sandwiched around four points by McKenzie trimmed the deficit to 14. After a Harrisburg layup, Antonio Perez Jr. (So., Frederick, Md. / St. John's Catholic) got into the mix with a 3-pointer which was followed by a fast break layup by McKenzie with an and-one free throw to get within 10 with 13:04 left in regulation.
- Harrisburg built its lead back up to 18, but Keys' hot shooting helped the Phoenix get the game back to 10. A Tobias Reese (FY, Mansfield, Texas / St. Elizabeth (Del.)) triple later brought Wilson within nine at 55-46 with 5:38 to go, but that would be as close as Wilson got the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Keys hit a career-high six 3-pointers en route to leading the Phoenix with 20 points, two shy of his personal best reached against Mary Washington three weeks ago. He was 6-of-10 from range with a pair of free throws.
- McKenzie was a force with his first double-double of the season. He was 4-for-8 overall from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line to tally up 12 points. He matched that with a season-high and game-high 12 rebounds.
- Robertson also finished the day in double-figures with 10 points. He too was 4-for-8 overall with a 2-for-3 day behind the arc. He spread the wealth around by dishing out seven assists.
- As a team Wilson hit a season-best 12 3-pointers. It's the sixth time this season the Phoenix has made 10 or more.
Up Next
Wilson will head to Phoenixville to take on Valley Forge this Saturday.
