Reading, PA- The Penn St. Berks Men's Basketball Team dropped a highly competitive match-up with Wilson College, falling by a score of 87-76 on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Berks (5-13 Overall, 4-7 UE) got off to a slow start as the Phoenix (9-10 Overall, 7-3 UE) built an early 16-3 lead. Josh Mingledolph tried to get the offense going, scoring five straight points. Andre Ballard followed that up by swishing a 3-pointer. He then stormed to the basket, drawing a foul and completing a three-point play. Kai Davis slashed the deficit down to seven, hitting a corner 3-pointer. Moments later, Davis came up with a steal, sprinting down the floor for a thunderous dunk forcing Wilson to call a timeout. Jaedon Mast brought the Lions within two, drilling a 3-pointer. Later in the half, Marquis Ferreira swished a 3-pointer, tying the game at 29. Wilson answered back, retaking a five-point lead just under two minutes remaining in the half. Mingledolph and Mast converted shots in the final minute of the half, but the Lions trailed 38-37 at the break.

Mingledolph scored the first five points of the second half, putting the Lions ahead 42-40. The teams began to trade the lead with Ferreira hitting a 3-pointer to level the score at 48. Ballard and Mingledolph hit back-to-back 3-pointers pushing their lead to four. Wilson fought back, eventually leveling the score at 61 with 10:28 remaining in the half. Ballard kept the Lions in front, hitting another 3-pointer. Wilson heated up down the stretch, rattling off eight straight points. Berks could not recover, eventually falling by a score of 87-76.

The Lions were led in scoring by Mingledolph who finished with 22 points, registering a double-double by collecting 14 rebounds. Ballard scored 20 points, going 5-9 from beyond the arc. Ferreira added 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Isaiah Cotten hauled in 10 rebounds, also adding seven points.

WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will celebrate Senior Day before they host the University of Valley Forge on Saturday, Feb 1. Berks defeated the Patriots 86-78 in their first match-up this season. The tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 PM.

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