Monaca, PA - Penn State Beaver protected its home floor Wednesday night at the Beaver Field House, edging past Kent State–Tuscarawas 71–68 in a game that stayed tight to the final seconds. Beaver carried a 35–29 lead into halftime, then matched the visitors point-for-point after the break to preserve the advantage in the closing moments.
Jabari Gayle delivered the headline performance for Penn State Beaver, pouring in 25 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting while repeatedly getting to the line (7-of-8 free throws). Ny'zir Dix added a strong all-around line with 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, plus two blocks, helping Beaver control key possessions inside. Trevor Franklin chipped in 9 points, and Jermaine Knaff provided a lift off the bench with 8 points, including a pair of three-pointers, as Beaver shot 47.2% from the field and finished with 13 assists.
In the end, Beaver's balance and interior presence proved just enough to withstand a late push and close out a three-point win. With no technical fouls and a steady second half that avoided a major swing, Penn State Beaver did what it needed to do: build a first-half cushion, answer runs, and execute down the stretch to secure the 71–68 victory. The team will take the court again on Saturday, January 31st at 3pm in the Beaver Fieldhouse. They will take on Penn State DuBois 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!
