McKEESPORT, Pa. - Coming off a trio of heartbreaking losses at home, the Madonna Crusaders would hit the road for the first time this season hoping to find their spark before Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play kicks off next week. Not only would they get back on track, they would shatter all expectations. Against the Penn State Greater Allegheny Nittany Lions on the road, the Crusaders would set multiple program records; most assists in a game (35), most three-pointers made in a game (17), and highest field-goal percentage as a team (64.2%). En route to their record-setting day, they nearly double-up the Nittany Lions in a 112-61 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

While it would turn out to be a high-scoring affair, the Crusaders would take a second to find their footing as the Nittany Lions got on the board first. However, two minutes in, the center Matthew MacLellan would rise to the rim for a slam dunk putting the Crusaders on the board. After that, they were off and running.

Ten minutes into the match, they Crusaders were already up by 17 points. They would only continue to grow their lead as 17 quickly became 20, and before the Nittany Lions knew it they were down by 28 as the first-half buzzer went off. Going into halftime, the Crusaders led 52-24.

The break did not slow the Crusaders down, in fact they ramped things up even another gear as they came back onto the court. Ethan Emerzian and Brendan Young would open the floodgates with back-to-back deep threes to start the half. Before the second half was even five minutes old, Emerzian would hit four threes since the break, with two others from Young and MacLellan respectively. MacLellan followed his first three of the half with a mid-range jumper to put the Crusaders up by 46 points just five minutes into the half; 74-28.

As their lead continued to become more and more insurmountable for the Nittany Lions, Crusader head coach Noel Emenhiser would release more of their bench, allowing for their young roster to get a chance to develop. With under thirty seconds to play, Isaac Smith would score the game's final basket; a three-pointer to extend the Crusaders margin of victory to 51. The Crusaders would head back to Michigan with their heads held high after the 112-61 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• MacLellan played a literal perfect game, 19 points on 8-of-8 shooting, eight rebounds, and six assists.
• Young recorded a 17-point 12-rebound double-double with four assists on top.
• Satchel Love scored 16 points and was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.
• Emerzian scored 15 points on 5-of-7 three-pointers made and dealt six assists.
• Ahmoni Weston scored double-digits as well with 12 points and six assists.
• The Crusaders set multiple single-game team records; most assists in a game (35), most three-pointers made in a game (17), and highest field-goal percentage as a team (64.2%).

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will kick off conference play in the WHAC with a road game against the Lourdes University Gray Wolves this Wednesday, November 20. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm from Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center in Sylvania, Ohio,