BUFFALO, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University men's basketball team fell to Penn State, 68-65, Saturday afternoon at the KeyBank Center in the Greenlight Preseason Showcase.
Mason Blackwood finished with a team-high 15 points and grabbed four rebounds. Taj Au-Duke chipped in nine points while Benjamin Bill added eight points and seven rebounds.
The Bonnies started the game fast, opening up an early 8-2 lead over the Nittany Lions after a Zach Philipkoski 3-pointer.
Ilia Ermakov pushed the Bonnies lead to double digits, 14-4, on a basket inside with just over 11 minutes to play in the first half.
A few minutes later, Bona's got scores from Ari Fulton, Benjamin Bill and Ryan Heath to extend the lead to 20-8.
Just before halftime, the Bonnies got a spark off the bench from Joe Grahovac who drained a three before forcing a steal and finding Mason Blackwood on the fast break for an easy two, giving the Bonnies a 36-22 advantage.
Penn State, however, got a three from Robert Blums to cut the Nittany Lion deficit to 36-25 at halftime.
The Bonnies had an efficient first half, shooting 55.2 percent from the floor and only committing two turnovers.
Quick second half scores from Zach Philipkoski and Ermakov extended the Bonnies lead to 43-29 over Penn State.
Penn State battled back, using a 10-2 run over a six-minute span to pull back within five midway through the second half, 49-44.
The two teams continued to trade buckets heading into the latter stages of the second half.
The Bonnies led the Nittany Lions, 56-52, before Philipkoski knocked down a 3-pointer in the corner to push the Bonnies lead back to seven.
Penn State, however, answered with a basket on the next possession to keep the Bonnies lead at five, 59-54.
With 4:19 showing on the clock in the second half, Blums made another three to pull the Penn State within one, 59-58.
The Nittany Lions took their first lead of the contest coming out of the under four media timeout when Josh Reed converted from the paint.
The Bonnies looked to end the drought as Taj Au-Duke's basket ended a Penn State run, but the Nittany Lions, however, answered with a basket on the next possession to keep the lead.
Blackwood was fouled a few possessions later and converted on both to give the Bonnies back the lead, 65-64.
The Nittany Lions were quick to answer, retaking the lead, 66-65.
The Bonnies were fouled and had a chance to capture the lead with a pair of free throw, but were unable to convert, forcing the Bonnies to foul.
Penn State made two at the line to take a three-point, 68-65, lead.
Bona's got a clean look on a three to tie the game as time expired, however, the shot fell short as Penn State claimed the victory.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH MIKE MacDONALD
"I thought it was a really nice environment. We are very appreciative of the people who turned out today. We are appreciative of the sponsors, Greenlight especially, who helped us with this production. It was a great test for our guys against a Big Ten opponent on a neutral court and I thought we played well."
UP NEXT
The Bonnies are back in action for their final exhibition contest of the preseason, hosting Point Park Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4:00 p.m. at the Reilly Center.
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