CRESSON, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona men's basketball team traveled to face Mount Aloysius at the Athletic Convocation & Wellness Center, where they lost to the Mounties 98-87. 

Penn State Altoona (11-11, 5-8 AMCC) worked its way to an eight-point halftime lead after outscoring Mount Aloysius (4-18, 2-11 AMCC) in free throws (10-3) and three-pointers (9-6). However, the Lions lost their lead in a second half where the Mounties were more clinical, scoring 69.2% of their field goals to the Lions's 40.0%.  

Kaden Claar (Portage, PA/Portage) had the game-high in points with 25, and he got his third double-double of the season after grabbing 19 rebounds. Claar also led the game in steals with four. Three other players for Penn State Altoona had double digits in points with Braelen Cage (Lorton, VA/Hayfield Secondary) scoring 17, Drew Escala (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) scoring 15, and Rasheed Daniels (Richmond, VA/Monacan) scoring 13.  

For Mount Aloysius, Troy Tinch led in scoring with 24 points, and Donovan Bass-Briscoe added 23 points for the Mounties.  

The Lions started the game with an early 14-10 lead after a Claar three-pointer but found it difficult to take a commanding lead as the Mounties continued to score baskets to keep it within seven points.  

The Lions went on an 8-2 run at 12:28 following three free throws from Daniels as well as a three pointer and two-point jumper from Escala. The run gave the Lions an eleven-point lead.  

The Lions grew their lead to 15 points, their largest of the game after going on a 7-0 run at 9:21. The run included two free throws from Daniels, a tip-in from Aidan McCormack (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury), and a three-pointer from Cage. The run forced a timeout from the Mounties, who regrouped and scored ten unanswered points to cut the Lions's lead to only five points.  

At 4:19, the Lions went on a 10-2 run with Zion Bruce (Kihei, HI/Maryknoll) scoring a layup and three-pointer and Daniels scoring two free throws. The run doubled the Lions lead to ten points.  

With three seconds remaining in the half, Mount Aloysius's D'Myah Carr converted one of his two free throws to end the half 51-43 in favor of Penn State Altoona.  

The Mounties came out in the second half looking to avoid their 12th defeat in the AMCC. Starting at 19:36, the Mounties went on a 9-3 run that cut the Lions's lead to two points.  

Mount Aloysius tied the game for the second time in a minute following a layup from Bass-Briscoe. The Mounties then took the lead at 12:57 through a Bass-Briscoe three-pointer. From this point on, the Mounties would not relinquish their lead in the game.  

The Lions stayed within single digits for the next four-and-a-half minutes, but the Mounties took a double-digit lead after a free throw from Bass-Briscoe. Penn State Altoona cut the Mounties lead to four points after going on a 7-2 run at 7:22. Bruce scored a free throw, Cage scored a three-point jump shot, Claar scored a layup, and Daniels scored a layup as the Lions made it 74-78.  

The Lions continued to hang on, but four free throws and a dunk put the score at 98-85 in favor of the Mounties with only 17 seconds left.  

Escala scored a tip-in at 0:09, but it would not be enough as the Lions lost, 98-87. 

"Jekyll and Hyde reared his head again," said Penn State Altoona head coach David McGreal. "We've got to a find a way to get one more win." 

The Penn State Altoona men's basketball team will travel to Erie, Pa. for their next game against Penn State Behrend on Saturday, February 14 at 4:00 p.m.