Second-Half Surge Lifts Penn State Du Bois Past Beaver, 90–62
Penn State Beaver held its own through a competitive first half, but Penn State Du Bois pulled away after the break to secure a 90–62 victory.
Monaca, PA - Penn State Beaver returned to the Beaver Fieldhouse on Jan. 31 looking to defend home court, but Penn State Du Bois pulled away after a tight opening 20 minutes to earn a 90–62 win. Beaver trailed by just four at the break (40–36), yet Du Bois' pace and shot-making steadily widened the gap after halftime as the visitors turned a competitive first half into a decisive final margin.
The turning point came in the second half, when Beaver's offense cooled and Du Bois' efficiency spiked. Beaver shot 22-for-53 from the field and struggled from three-point range (1-for-11), while Du Bois finished 34-for-63 overall and hit 11 threes. Beaver also left points at the line (17-for-24) and was out-rebounded 38–25, making it difficult to generate extra possessions or mount a sustained run. Jabari Gayle led Beaver with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting, with Trevor Franklin adding 11; Joe Pinto chipped in 9 points, and Jermaine Knaff and Brandon Rue scored 8 apiece.
In the end, Beaver's strong first-half effort wasn't enough to withstand Du Bois' second-half surge, as the visitors controlled the glass and dictated the game's spacing with perimeter shooting. Beaver will look to respond by tightening up on the boards and finding more consistent scoring balance—especially from beyond the arc—after a game that swung sharply after intermission. The team will take the court again on Tuesday, February 3rd at 7:30pm in Shenango. They will take on Penn State Shenango in another PSUAC match-up! For all things Penn State Beaver Men's Basketball check out beaverathletics.com or watch all home games live on the Rise and Roar Network!