The Penn State Shenango Men's Basketball team stepped into a big-stage environment on Wednesday night, traveling to Division I-Saint Francis (PA) for a non-conference matchup in DeGol Arena. The Lions fell 100–41, but used the night as a chance to compete, grow, and continue building chemistry ahead of a quick turnaround into PSUAC action.

Saint Francis came out firing, opening the game on a 17–0 run before Jordan Dotson finally broke the ice with a drive to the rim at the 13:05 mark. From there, Shenango began to settle in, moving the ball side-to-side and finding better looks against the Red Flash pressure. Rhys Grocott and Kevon Washington helped steady things, attacking in transition and creating opportunities at the basket and the free-throw line.

Offensively, Washington led the Lions with 11 points, adding four rebounds and two assists while playing a team-high 37 minutes. Despite heavy attention from the defense, he continued to hunt shots, connect from deep once, and finish through traffic in the second half, including a series of drives and a late jumper that capped his night. Dotson provided a strong spark off the bench, finishing with seven points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. He attacked the paint for tough layups, knocked down a jumper, and kept competing on both ends even as Saint Francis rotated fresh legs in throughout the second half.

Grocott anchored the interior with a physical effort on the glass, tallying six points and a team-high eight rebounds (three offensive). His work on the boards helped Shenango grab 11 offensive rebounds as a team, generating second-chance looks and extra possessions against a much bigger frontline. On the perimeter, several Lions had moments from long range. Washington, Darius Williams, Devin Alston, and Langston Boyd each connected from three as Shenango knocked down four triples on the night. Boyd made the most of his 18 minutes, scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting, including a first-half three that gave the Lions a jolt of energy. Williams added four points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal as he handled a tough assignment in the backcourt.

Defensively, Shenango continued to battle despite the Red Flash's hot shooting. Dominic Jefferson picked up two steals off the bench, jumping passing lanes and turning defense into transition opportunities. The Lions also forced six Saint Francis turnovers and held their own on the glass for stretches, finishing with 37 rebounds as a group. While the final score didn't tilt in Shenango's favor, the matchup provided valuable experience against a Division I opponent—testing the Lions' pace, physicality, and mental toughness. Those reps will serve them well as they shift back into conference play.

Next up, the Lions return home looking to bounce back in a big way as they host Penn State York on Friday, December 5, with tip-off set for 7:30 PM at the Buhl Club. With another chance to defend home court and get back in the win column, Shenango will look to carry the compete level and resilience from Loretto into a strong response in front of its home crowd.