PITTSBURGH, PA -- The La Roche Redhawks soared past Penn State Altoona on their way to a 78-56 victory. Men's hoops improves to 3-1 on the season and a perfect 2-0 in conference.
Austin Hannes finished with 15 points and went 3 for 3 from distance. Zach Gould tallied 14 points and 5 assists and Kennedy Smith 13 points. RayQuan Phifer had 10 points and 6 rebounds. The Redhawks won the rebounding battle 44-28.
The Redhawks held Altoona without a field goal over the opening four minutes. Austin Hannes helped the Redhawks climb out to a 7-1 lead with a three pointer and a fast break layup.
Altoona called a timeout and cut the Redhawks lead in half by the thirteen minute mark. La Roche stepped up defensively and started to run away. Caden Kryz provided a three pointer and Kennedy Smith a jumper and an and-1.
The Redhawks stretched their lead to fifteen with a Zach Gould steal and Hannes transition three. Kryz drained another three and Gould hit a pair of threes for a 38-18 lead with 2:52 left in the half.
Altoona hit a three with a minute left in the half but Gould added his fourth of the half at the buzzer and a 44-24 halftime lead. Gould entered the half with 12 points and the Redhawks hit 8 of 14 three pointers.
La Roche extended their lead in the second half. Phifer and Smith hit back to back pull up jumpers to give the Redhawks a 62-37 lead with 12:18 left. Luke McDonald followed with a putback and Hannes a step back three.
Darrell Barron rejected an Altoona fast break layup and Smith grabbed a rebound and scored for a twenty-eight point lead with seven minutes to play. Barron added a three pointer late and the Redhawks earned the big victory.