On Friday night in Steubenville, Ohio, the Penn State Shenango Lions played a spirited road game at Franciscan University, but fell short as the Barons secured an 89-78 win in front of a lively crowd at Finnegan Fieldhouse.

After an intense opening half that saw Shenango stay within striking distance, Franciscan outpaced the Lions in the second stanza to clinch the victory. Franciscan jumped ahead early, carrying a 48-45 lead at intermission before widening the gap in the final 20 minutes.

Scoring Leaders Spark Shenango's Effort

Senior guard Izzy Santiago led the Lions with an impressive 28 points on highly efficient shooting, going 11-for-18 from the field and helping keep Penn State Shenango competitive throughout the night.

Joining Santiago in double figures:

• Aidan Slocum provided a strong complementary scoring effort with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

• Rhys Grocott added 10 points and hauled in a team-high 7 rebounds, anchoring Shenango's presence on the boards.

• Darius Williams also chipped in 10 points, contributing to the team's balanced offensive attack.

• Devin Alston contributed 9 points, while Jordan Dotson added 8 points and a team-high 5 assists.

Together, the Lions shot 45.2% from the field and 66.7% from the line, posting a solid offensive showing against a tough Franciscan squad.

Team Effort and Resilience

Shenango showed heart down the stretch, battling through defensive pressure and answering back after Franciscan runs. The team recorded 39 rebounds and forced several turnovers that helped maintain momentum at key points.

Despite the loss, the Lions took positives from the performance — including contributions up and down the roster — that can serve as building blocks moving forward in a challenging early season.

Looking Ahead

Penn State Shenango will now regroup as they prepare to return home and resume PSUAC play. With several close games early this season, the Lions hope to convert competitive efforts into wins as conference battles approach.