Tough opening loss on the road

Lions Fall on the Road at Mercyhurst

Erie, Pa. — November 8, 2025 — The Penn State New Kensington men's basketball team dropped a non-conference road matchup to NCAA Division II opponent Mercyhurst University on Saturday afternoon, 93–43, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

The Lions were led by Ta'Rasi Means, who continued his strong early-season play with a game-high 23 points, connecting on 8-of-22 shots from the field, including three from beyond the arc, and adding five rebounds and four steals. Myles Griffith added nine points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Donaven Johnson contributed four rebounds and three assists.

Penn State New Kensington struggled to find its rhythm offensively, shooting 29.4% from the floor and 23.5% from three-point range, while Mercyhurst converted nearly 59% of its attempts and knocked down 12 triples. The Lakers' balanced attack was led by Bernie Blunt, who scored 18 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting, and Mykolaus Ivanauskas, who posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Despite the loss, the Lions showed resilience, forcing eight steals and competing hard on the glass against the larger Lakers squad.