Men's Basketball Gives Up Early Lead in Season Opener

ARNOLD, MD—The Anne Arundel Community College men's basketball team opened the season with a narrow loss to visiting Penn State York Thursday evening at Jenkins Gym. The Riverhawks led by as many as 13, but saw the lead slip away in the second half of a 75-67 loss.

AACC was led by 18 points and three assists from Truth Norton, who sank three of four three-pointers in his Riverhawk debut. Jeremiah Stroman added 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds in his collegiate debut. Michael Duffy scored eight second-half points, and Malik Carroll had nine in the first half. Matt Kostacopolous pulled down six rebounds to go with a second-half layup.

The Riverhawks opened the game with a seven-point run and built up a double-digit lead within the first six minutes. Penn State got back within single digits several times but was unable to catch up as Carroll poured in nine straight points in the final 2:33 of the half.

Penn State hit six of eight three-pointers in the second half and took back the lead before five minutes had ticked by in the frame. AACC tied it up once more on a Norton free throw, but couldn't get closer than a four-point differential as time slipped by.

Both teams pulled down 31 rebounds in the game. AACC outscored Penn State in the paint by a 36-32 margin. PSU converted 20 Riverhawks turnovers in 20 points, while AACC manufactured just eight points off of the Nittany Lions' nine turnovers.

AACC hits the road this weekend for a tournament at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, N.C. The Riverhawks face Oxford Emory at 5 pm Friday before taking on the ninth-ranked Flyers Saturday at 3 p.m.