ABINGTON PA. – In the Battle of the Lions the Penn State Abington men's basketball team took on their cross-town rival Bryn Athyn and came away with a thrilling 89-80 win in overtime on Friday night. With the win the Nittany Lions improve to 6-3 overall.
Putting up a career high 31 points Alex Podolski dominated under the boards with 11 rebounds to complete the double-double. Junior Brian Randolph III also picked up a double-double of his own earning 13 boards and 18 points for the guard.
The Nittany Lions started the battle with the upper hand opening the game with a 10-2 run thanks to some clutch shooting from behind the arc. Bryn Athyn clawed their way back into the game and tied it with 15 minutes in the period off a three-ball of their own. The visitors pulled ahead but couldn't get more than three points on the Nittany Lions. Podolski shifted momentum and gave the Nittany Lions the lead with nine minutes left to go after earning some hard points in the paint. Abington pulled ahead with another 10-2 run to push the lead to 27-20 with under five to play. In the final minutes of the half Bryn Athyn chipped away at the lead and earned a late three shot foul that brought them to 32-31, to the Nittany Lions at the break.
Bryn Athyn came out of the break and pulled ahead slightly but Randolph kept the Nittany Lions in it by pounding the paint with his layups. Over the next five minutes the lead changed hands five times between the Lions and the Nittany Lions. Abington pulled ahead with a 11-2 run thanks to getting to the line and draining their free throws. With three minutes to go in the game Abington pushed their lead to double digits after another layup from Randolph.  In the final minutes of the game the Nittany Lions were sloppy, and the visitors took advantage getting to the basket and getting the and one. Down 75-71, the Lions came back and tied the game after four consecutive free throws that they hit in a crucial spot. The Nittany Lions had the last possession of the game tied 75-75 but couldn't hit their shot and went into overtime.
In the overtime period the Nittany Lions regrouped and couldn't miss. Abington outscored Bryn Athyn 14-5 in the extra period and the Nittany Lions had all the momentum after a dunk from Darrion Harris. The Lions didn't get their first points until the final two minutes of the period, but the game was out of reach for the visitors.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action in the New Year when they host Morrisville State on Friday January 7th at 5:00 p.m.
