Penn State opened up their 2025-26 season with a tune-up exhibition game in Dayton, OH as they played the Dayton Flyers inside the University of Dayton (UD) Arena. The Nittany Lions came up short as Dayton defeated Penn State 78-62.
I caught up with Head Coach Mike Rhoades after the game.
Questions were finally answered when Penn State started guard Kayden Mingo, guard Dominick Stewart, guard Eli Rice, forward Josh Reed, and forward Sasa Ciani.
It was a very athletic, fast-paced game from start to finish. The Flyers got off to a hot start using the momentum from their electric home crowd. At the 15:00 minute mark of the first half, the Flyers were up on the Nittany Lions 11-9, being led by forward Keonte Jones who finished the first half with 13 points on 3 of 4 shooting. Dayton had its biggest lead of the game with 8:42 left when they stretched their lead to 10 points.
Eli Rice then knocked in a big three at the 7:50 mark to pull Penn State within 5 to make the score 25-20. Freshman, Kayden Mingo, and redshirt junior Freddie Dilione kept the Nittany Lions within striking distance with good takes to the hoop and jump shots. Mingo finished the first half with 7 points and Dilione had 6 points.
At the half, the score was 34-29 Dayton Flyers.
To start the second half, Penn State came out shooting cold, while Dayton continued their hot play. At the 13:00 minute mark, it was Dayton 54 Penn State 36. The Nittany Lions could not find their stride, while Dayton scored 24 points off of Penn State turnovers and scored 42 points from the paint to finish the game.
Kayden Mingo and Freddie Dilione led the Nittany Lions in scoring with 16 points apiece. Mingo was 6 of 10 shooting while Dilione was 7-17 from the floor.
Penn State plays their final exhibition game at home against Shippensburg on Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 P.M. inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
