In a game where Penn State only had the lead for a total of 3:22, the Nittany Lions battled back from a 15-point second half deficit to defeat St. Bonaventure in an exhibition nail-biter, 68-65, inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
Nittany Sports Now was in Buffalo covering the game and these were the main takeaways and highlights.
First, it’s worthy to note that two of Penn State’s probable starters did not suit up for the game. They were point guard, Dasonte Bowen, and power forward Roko Prkacin. The reasons they were inactive are unknown because Coach Rhoades was not available to the media after the game to ask.
With that being said, St. Bonaventure outplayed Penn State for nearly 80% of the game. The Bonnies just looked quicker to the ball and were gelling more as a team. In the first half, the Bonnies shot 55.2% (16-29) from the floor to the Nittany Lions’ 34.6% (9-26) and took the lead at halftime by the score of 36-25.
The lone bright spots for PSU in the first half was the three-point shooting from Roberts Blums (2-4), Thomas Allard (2-3) and Brant Byers (1-3). Blums was leading the Nittany Lions with nine points coming off the bench.
For a team that is picked to finish near the bottom in the mid-conference, Atlantic 10 this year, the Bonnies were not intimidated by a Power Four, Big Ten team coming to Buffalo.
To start the second half, it was more of the same, but the Nittany Lions never let the game get away from them, and they slowly started to heat up inside the chilly hockey arena.
For the second half, the Nittany Lions shot 59% (13-for-22) from the field and 57% (4-for-7) from 3-point range.
Reed scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half by using his long 6′-8″ frame to make crafty moves to the hoop, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. Blums and Allard continued to connect from downtown, while Juric was pounding down inside and drawing fouls as well.
It took until 3:35 remaining to play for Penn State to take their first lead of the game. Savvy, fifth-year player, Reed, knocked in a jumper to make the score 60-59.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The Nittany Lions then put the clamps down on defense and held the Bonnies without a field goal for the final 1:49 of regulation.
For the second half, they held St. Bonaventure to just 26% (6-for-23) shooting, including 22% (2-for-9) from beyond the arc.
Penn State, overall, did show a lot of perseverance, resiliency, and mental toughness by not letting the game get away from them and they continued to fight. It was also an away game for the Blue & White playing in front of mostly Bonnie fans.
Playing this inconsistent, though, against a good Big Ten team will not cut it, because the deficit will be too great to overcome.
Reed finished the game with a team-high 18 points and teammates Blums finished with 17, Allard 12 and Juric 10.
Former Nittany Lion, Mason Blackwood, had a team-high 15 points for the Bonnies.
The Nittany Lions will travel to Philadelphia for their second and final exhibition game on Monday, October 26 at Drexel inside the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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