The Buhl Club was rocking Monday night as the Penn State Shenango Men's Basketball team gutted out a thrilling 92–86 win over visiting Berkeley, moving to 5–3 overall behind a barrage of shot-making and some clutch closing moments.

From the opening tip, the Lions' offense was in rhythm. Izzy Santiago wasted no time heating up, drilling a three just 24 seconds into the game and setting the tone for a huge night. Santiago finished with 23 points, knocking down 5-of-8 from deep and adding four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Every time Berkeley threatened to swing the momentum, Santiago seemed to answer with a jumper or a timely three. While Santiago stretched the floor, Darius Williams orchestrated a masterclass in late-game poise. Williams poured in 25 points on an efficient 8-of-14 from the field, hit a three, and was absolutely automatic at the line at 8-for-8. He also added four rebounds, five assists, and turned it over just once. In the closing minute, with Shenango clinging to a narrow lead, Williams calmly buried four clutch free throws and then delivered the dagger with a layup plus another free throw with one second left to put the game out of reach.

Inside, Rhys Grocott anchored the paint with a big-time double-double. Grocott posted 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and ripped down 10 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. His work on the boards gave Shenango crucial second-chance opportunities and helped stabilize things when Berkeley made its late push. The Lions' depth was on full display as well. Jordan Dotson brought energy off the bench, attacking the rim for 13 points and pulling down eight rebounds in 20 minutes. His string of layups in the first half turned a tight game into a Shenango surge, helping the Lions build a 46–40 halftime lead and stretch it further early in the second half.

Aidan Slocum chipped in seven points, four rebounds, and a block, including a tough jumper and a key defensive board in crunch time. Devin Alston added seven points, two assists, and a steal, and hit a mid-range jumper in the final minutes that stopped a Berkeley run right when the Knights seemed ready to flip the game. Langston Boyd added a strong drive for two points, while doing the little things defensively. Even on a night when the shots didn't fall for Kevon Washington (4 points on 1-of-9), he still filled up the box score and set the table for everyone else. Washington grabbed five rebounds, swiped two steals, and dished out a game-high nine assists, repeatedly finding Santiago, Williams, Grocott, and Dotson for high-percentage looks in transition and in the halfcourt.

As a team, Shenango was locked in offensively, shooting 51.5% from the field (34-of-66) and tallying 21 assists on those 34 baskets. The Lions matched Berkeley on the glass with 37 rebounds and showed toughness responding to runs. Berkeley refused to go away behind DaMarco Watson's 25 points and Justyce Coleman's 14-point, 13-rebound double-double, trimming what had been a double-digit Shenango lead all the way down to 87-86 in the final two minutes. But in winning time, the Lions delivered. Slocum knocked down a big jumper, the defense forced tough attempts at the rim, and Shenango's veterans controlled the final possessions. Williams' free throws and last-second and-one served as the final exclamation point on a statement home win.

With the offense humming, multiple players in double figures, and the team showing it can close out a tight, high-scoring battle, Penn State Shenango heads into its next challenge with momentum and confidence.

Next Event:
Penn State Shenango at Saint Francis
Loretto, PA
12/03/2025 – 7:00 PM EST