
Posted: Nov 13, 2024
The Penn State Shenango Men's Basketball team fell to an undefeated Villa Maria squad, 72-54, in a hard-fought contest at home. Despite their best efforts, Shenango's shooting struggles and Villa Maria's balanced performance proved too much to overcome.
D'Montez Owens led Shenango with 17 points, showcasing his scoring ability by converting four of five free throws and adding five rebounds. Malik Davis provided a solid offensive contribution, scoring 14 points, including two three-pointers. Izzy Santiago chipped in 13 points but was only 2-for-11 from beyond the arc as Shenango collectively struggled from deep, shooting just 18.8% (6-for-32).
Cameron Brown battled hard in the paint, grabbing a team-high 15 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass, while also contributing six points and two steals. However, Shenango's overall shooting woes, at just 25.3% from the field, hampered their chances to keep pace with Villa Maria.
Villa Maria capitalized on Shenango's shooting difficulties, using a balanced scoring effort to secure the win. Santi Manero led the visitors with a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Bryant Rosa provided a spark off the bench, leading Villa Maria with 15 points, including three shots from beyond the arc.
The first half ended with Villa Maria leading 37-28, and despite Shenango's defensive hustle and improved free-throw shooting (83.3% for the game), the deficit widened in the second half. Villa Maria's rebounding advantage and key contributions from players like Juston Johnson, who collected eight boards, helped seal the victory.
With this loss, Penn State Shenango drops to 1-5 on the season. The team will look to bounce back by finding their rhythm on offense and sharpening their long-range shooting as they prepare for upcoming conference play.