Box Score Center Valley, Pa. - The Penn State Abington men's basketball team lost the opening round game of the Red Robin Holiday Tournament hosted by DeSales University earlier this afternoon. The Nittany Lions were unable to shake off the rust of the long holiday break fast enough to keep pace with the host Bulldogs, falling by a score of 99-84.
 
The two teams traded the lead back and forth several times in the opening five minutes of play. Penn State Abington (2-8, 0-0 NEAC) held as much as a three-point advantage at times, led by five early points from sophomore Max Alton. Back-to-back shooting fouls by the Nittany Lions, however, stopped any early momentum Penn State Abington may have had. Junior guard Mike Coleman drained four straight free throws to give the Bulldogs a 10-8 lead, and the Nittany Lions would not come close for the rest of the game.
 
By the time all was said and done in the first half, DeSales (8-2, 2-0 MAC), had run away to a 55-30 lead, although at times, the Bulldogs led by as much as 33 points. The second half was at least somewhat of a different story, however, for Penn State Abington. The Nittany Lions were able to close the deficit to 20 points halfway through the second frame. By the five minute mark, the DeSales lead was only eleven points. However, it was simply a matter of too little, too late for Penn State Abington, as the Bulldogs were able to hold off any further charge from the Nittany Lions.
 
Penn State Abington was led in scoring by sophomores Darien Mitchell and Max Alton, who tallied 23 and 22 points respectively. Sophomore Mike Marvin recorded yet another double-double for the Nittany Lions, scoring 19 points and pulling in 14 rebounds in the contest. Junior Mike Colacci was the only other Nittany Lion in double figures, with 12 points on the day. DeSales was led by senior forward Brett Moyer, who scored 19 points in the game. Coleman and senior Greg Peters also had quality games, scoring 18 and 17 points apiece.
 
The Nittany Lions will get a chance to immediately right the ship tomorrow, as they play in the consolation game of the DeSales tournament against the loser of the Centenary-Drew matchup. Check in at abingtonsports.com for updates on opponent and gametime, and all your other Penn State Abington Nittany Lions news!