Penn State Shenango put up a valiant second-half effort but ultimately fell to Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 88-73, in a hard-fought PSUAC matchup on their home court. Despite a slow start offensively, the Lions rallied in the second half to maintain a 51-51 pace with their opponent, showing grit and determination.

Shenango struggled to find rhythm in the first half, shooting just 24.3% from the field and 11.8% from three-point range. However, the team found its footing after the break, improving to an impressive 51.3% shooting clip, including 46.2% from beyond the arc.

Leading the charge for Shenango was D'Montez Owens, who delivered a game-high 25 points while adding four rebounds and four assists. Owens persevered through 40 minutes of action, shouldering much of the offensive load. Devin Alston provided a spark as well, shooting an efficient 6-for-9 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, finishing with 16 points.

Cameron Brown anchored Shenango on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds to go along with seven points. Izzy Santiago added seven points and seven rebounds, while Chris Williams chipped in with seven points off the bench. Garrett Hamrick gave an efficient performance, scoring six points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting night while grabbing seven rebounds.

Despite Shenango's resilience and second-half surge, Wilkes-Barre's offense proved difficult to contain. Jo-Nathan Kelly led the visitors with a standout 33-point performance, shooting 14-of-19 from the field. Jedidiah Ashton also made a significant impact, recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Penn State Shenango will look to build on their second-half performance as they move forward in conference play. The Lions are back in action on Friday, December 20th, when they take on NCAA Division II opponent Point Park University. The matchup will provide Shenango with a valuable test as they continue to develop and prepare for the remainder of the season.