READING, Pa. — Penn St.-Berks (2-8, 1-1 United East) fell to Lancaster Bible (6-1, 1-0 United East) with a final score of 100-74 on Saturday night at the Beaver Athletics & Wellness Center. Despite the loss, the Nittany Lions recorded 8 blocks and 8 steals throughout the game.

Penn State Berks opened the first half with an early defensive stop by Zach Prator, who contributed a block at the 19:11 mark. The team showed resilience by narrowing the gap midway through the half, with key contributions from Marquis Ferreira, who converted two free throws to bring the score to 31-20. Despite efforts from Gabriel Harrison and Cooper Truskey, who both added points in the paint, Berks faced challenges with turnovers, leading to a halftime score of 54-35 in favor of Lancaster Bible.

The Nittany Lions began the second half with a defensive highlight as Jaedon Mast blocked an opponent's 3-point attempt. Ferreira then contributed with a perfect trip to the free-throw line and a 3-pointer, closing the gap. Despite their efforts,The Chargers maintained control with fast-break points.

The Penn State Berks continued to find opportunities, with Harrison and Matthew Gingerich each hitting crucial shots. Mast added a fast-break layup, showcasing their resilience. However, Lancaster Bible's efficient shooting and scoring from the paint kept Berks at a distance.

In the closing minutes, Ferreira and Henry Michel III each hit 3-pointers to inject some energy into the team. Despite these efforts, Lancaster Bible's scoring runs extended their lead. The half ended with Lancaster Bible ahead, having scored 46 points to the home team's 39 in the second half.

Ferreira led Berks with 22 points, converting 10 of 11 free throws and adding three assists. Mast contributed defensively with five steals and recorded eight points. Lucian Freeman was perfect from the field, scoring four points on 2-for-2 shooting and blocked two shots. Quentin Wright was active on the boards, collecting seven rebounds and making six free throws.

WHO'S NEXT?
In their next game, Berks will host Haverford College on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. The action will unfold in Reading, Pennsylvania, as the team looks to capitalize on their home-court advantage.

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