WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Penn College defeated Penn State Abington, 87-66 in a United East men's basketball game on Tuesday evening. The Wildcats improved to 6-5 UE, 8-12 overall. Abington fell to 1-8, 2-18.

How it happened: The Wildcats led for the full 40 minutes as the team got out to a 10-5 lead over the first five minutes. Livingston Cross scored eight of the first 10 points with two 3-pointers, a layup and a pair of free throws while Gavin Barrett put away the first bucket of the game. Donnie Bass Briscoe produced the first 10-point lead, 15-5, with a free throw at the 14-minute mark and a 15-point game with 30 seconds to go for a 38-23 lead. 

Abington came out hot in the second half to pull within eight, 39-31 in the first two minutes before Cross and Barrett combined for six points to stall the Lions' run. DJ Smith III gave the Wildcats another 20-point lead at the 12:28 mark with a layup, pushing the score to 57-37 as the Wildcats maintained a double-digit cushion the rest of the game.  

Inside the box: Cross dropped 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 17th double-double while adding two steals, one assist and one block. Barrett scored 19 points, dished out six assists and grabbed five boards. Joe Savage nearly posted a double-double in just 14 minutes of work as he finished with eight points and eight rebounds. 

Penn College shot 48% (27-56) while forcing 19 turnovers and limiting Abington to just 38% (25-65) shooting.

Up next: Penn College visits Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday at 3 p.m.