Today inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, the Penn State men’s basketball team opened up their 2026-2027 season with an exhibition game against St. Bonaventure.
The Bonnies got out to a quick 5-0 lead before Penn State’s Josh Reed connected from inside to make the score 5-2.
At the first media timeout (15:38), it was the Bonnies over the Nittany Lions 8-2. Former Nittany Lion, Mason Blackwood, had two points for St. Bonaventure.
Penn State then had to call a timeout after St. Bonaventure went up 12-2 (13:09).
At the second media timeout, Penn State was only shooting 1 of 10 from the field at 10%, and the score remained 12-2 Bonnies.
Penn State started to settle into the game and Thomas Allard drilled a three to make the score 14-7 (10:43), but St. Bonaventure kept the pressure on the Nittany Lions by answering any Penn State score.
Roberts Blums then nailed a three to make the score 22-13 with 7:23 left in the first half.
Mason Blackwood answered with a three of his own to make the score 25-13 (6:00).
After a Brant Byers made three and a Tim Oboh inside scoop, the score was 29-18 with 3:13 left to play in the half.
Then Thomas Allard drilled a three and Ivan Juric connected on a free throw to draw closer to the Bonnies 31-22 (1:30).
But the Bonnies went on a 5-0 run before Blums knocked in his second three of the game to make the score 36-25.
At the half: St. Bonaventure 36 PSU 25
Roberts Blums was leading the Nittany Lions with 9 points shooting 2-for-4 from three.
Former Nittany Lion, Mason Blackwood, had seven points for the Bonnies.
Penn State was shooting 34.6% from the field and St. Bonaventure 55.2%.
To start the second half the Bonnies scored on their first possession and then Thomas Allard connected on his third three of the game to make the score 38-28 (18:16).
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.At the first media timeout of the second half (15:52) it was the Bonnies over the Nittany Lions 43-31. Allard was leading the Nittany Lions with 12 points shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.
St. Bonaventure would not allow Penn State to gain any momentum.
But with 10:00 to play, the Nittany Lions kept battling and cut the lead to five, 49-44. Blums had 14 points for the Blue & White and Allard had 12.
With Penn State in foul trouble, the Bonnies were in the bonus and kept knocking in their free throws and with 8:09 to play it was the Bonnies over the Nittany Lions 54-46.
A Josh Reed post move then cut the deficit to only 5 points, 55-50 (7:11) and an Ivan Juric put-in cut the lead to just four points.
Blums then knocked in his fourth three of the game to make the score just a one-point game with 4:19 left, 59-58.
It was Penn State’s ball with 3:54 left in the game and Reed put the Nittany Lions in front 60-59.
Then Ivan Juric went to the line and increased Penn State’s lead to three, 62-59.
Both teams were exchanging buckets and the former Nittany Lion, Blackwood, threw down a dunk to bring the Bonnies back to within one, 64-63 (1:43).
Blackwood then put St. Bonaventure back on top, 65-64 with 1:17 to play.
Juric then answered down low, 66-65 (1:00).
With 12.9 seconds left to play, the Bonnies were at the line shooting two and missed both.
PSU’s Reed then got fouled and went to the line and made both, 68-65 with 3.8 seconds to play.
FINAL: PSU 68 St. Bonn. 65
