UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. — Mekhi Mason demonstrated his sharpshooting skills by successfully sinking 6 out of 11 attempts from beyond the arc, contributing 20 points to the team’s efforts. DJ Davis also made a crucial 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining, helping Washington secure a narrow 75-73 victory over Penn State in a thrilling matchup that marked the first encounter between the two teams.
The Huskies, now boasting a record of 13-12 and 4-10 in Big Ten play, have managed to win three of their last five games. In contrast, the Nittany Lions are struggling, suffering their seventh consecutive defeat, which drops their record to 13-13 and 3-11 in conference play.
The game started in favor of the Nittany Lions, who built an impressive lead of 13 points during the first half and entered halftime with a slight edge of 38-34. However, Washington capitalized on momentum early in the second half when Mason opened with a 3-pointer, followed by a three-point play from Zoom Diallo, shifting the score to 40-38 in favor of the Huskies.
As the game progressed, Mason’s clutch 3-pointer with just under four minutes left pushed Washington ahead 70-68. Davis extended this lead with two successful free throws, making it 72-68 with a minute and a half left on the clock. Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V responded quickly, converting a three-point play to narrow the gap to 72-71. However, Davis’s next 3-pointer, just seconds later, restored a bit of breathing room for Washington at 75-71. Despite efforts by Ace Baldwin Jr., who missed a 3-point attempt as time expired, Washington held on for the victory.
In addition to Mason’s impressive performance, Davis finished the night with 14 points, shooting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Franck Kepnang matched Davis with 14 points, adding five rebounds and four steals to his tally. Diallo also played a significant role, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds, while Great Osobor showcased his playmaking with a double-double, registering 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
For Penn State, Baldwin led the scoring with 20 points, hitting 4 of 8 from three-point territory, alongside eight assists and six steals. Dilione made a notable contribution off the bench with 15 points, with Dunn supporting the team by adding 12. Yanic Konan Niederhauser also played effectively, scoring 10 points and securing 11 rebounds, while Zach Hicks chipped in with another 10 points.
Looking ahead, Washington will host Rutgers for their next game on Wednesday, while Penn State will also play at home against Nebraska on the same day.
