Penn State DuBois junior guard Niare Poplar goes up to slam the ball for a score during the PSUAC championship game at the Bryce Jordan Center.
DuBOIS, Pa. — After impressive efforts by both the men’s and women’s basketball teams during the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) playoffs, Penn State DuBois saw both teams receive bids to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national championship tournaments this week in Buffalo, New York.
The 2024-25 Penn State DuBois women’s basketball team.
The Lady Lions faced a familiar foe in the quarterfinals of the PSUAC championship tournament when they traveled to face Penn State Beaver on Feb. 24. DuBois came up short in a tightly contested matchup against Beaver, falling 71-65.
Despite defeating Beaver twice during the regular season, DuBois could not complete the sweep, struggling in the fourth quarter as Beaver outscored them 16-8 down the stretch.
Sophomore forward Natalie Bowser led DuBois with a dominant performance, posting a double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds while shooting 8-for-11 from the field. Senior Shannon Shaw provided a spark from beyond the arc, knocking down four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points. Hailey Theuret contributed eight points and nine rebounds for DuBois, while Elizabeth Hungiville added eight points and seven boards.
The game was a back-and-forth battle through three quarters, with DuBois holding a slim 57-55 lead heading into the final frame. However, cold shooting in the fourth quarter allowed Beaver to take control. Beaver capitalized on DuBois’ 24 turnovers, scoring 19 points off those mistakes.
Beaver was paced by Emery Black’s 15 points, while Bailey Rieg came off the bench to add 13. The host team’s defensive pressure proved pivotal, with 15 steals disrupting DuBois’ offensive rhythm.
Beaver would go on to capture the PSUAC championship on March 2 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The 2024-25 Penn State DuBois men’s basketball team.
The men’s basketball team would also open the PSUAC playoffs against Penn State Beaver, hosting them at the PAW Center on Feb. 24. A dominant second-half performance lifted DuBois to an 80-72 victory over Beaver.
Trailing 31-28 at halftime, DuBois erupted for 52 second-half points, shooting 55.2% from the field after the break to seize control. Junior Niare Poplar led the charge with a stellar 32-point effort, shooting an efficient 10-of-13 from the floor and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Beau Verdill provided a crucial spark, scoring 17 points while hitting three shots from beyond the arc. Kaleb Pryor added 12 points off the bench, helping DuBois hold off a late push from Beaver.
Beaver’s Alex Green led the visitors with 18 points, while Trevor Franklin recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The visitors controlled the offensive glass with 14 rebounds but struggled from 3-point range, making just 3-of-15 attempts.
DuBois tightened its defense in the second half, forcing 14 turnovers in the game and converting them into 15 points. The home team also found success at the free-throw line, improving from a 42.9% first-half clip to 85.0% in the second.
Advancing after the win over Penn State Beaver, Penn State DuBois moved on to the PSUAC semifinals, hosting Penn State Greater Allegheny on Feb. 26. The two teams split their regular season meetings, each winning on their home floor. DuBois rode a strong team effort to an 84-70 victory over Greater Allegheny, using depth and second-chance opportunities to pull away in the second half.
Poplar once again led the charge for DuBois, delivering a game-high 27 points while grabbing eight rebounds. He shot 9-of-15 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line, spearheading an offense that saw contributions from across the roster. The Nittany Lions capitalized on 23 offensive rebounds, converting them into 23 second-chance points. DuBois’ bench was also a key factor, outscoring Greater Allegheny’s reserves 34-6. Kyron Harbin provided a spark with 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Verdill and Ashton Fortson chipped in with nine and 11 points, respectively.
Greater Allegheny was paced by Elijah Hannon, who posted a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Biagio Crossley added 14 points, but the visitors struggled from beyond the arc, making just 3-of-18 attempts (16.7%).
DuBois led 41-36 at halftime before outscoring Greater Allegheny 43-34 in the final 20 minutes. The home team’s defensive pressure forced 12 turnovers, leading to 15 points.
The win in the semifinals put Penn State DuBois into the PSUAC championship game, played on March 2 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Nittany Lions faced a PSUAC cross-division rival, Penn State Mont Alto. Despite a late push, DuBois came up short against Mont Alto, falling 75-67.
DuBois struggled to find consistency offensively, shooting just 31.2% from the field and 23.1% from beyond the arc. Verdill led the effort with a double-double, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Pryor added 13 points.
Mont Alto took control early, leading 38-27 at halftime behind strong rebounding and inside scoring. DuBois made a push in the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits, but Mont Alto’s size and efficiency at the free-throw line (23-of-32) helped keep them in control.
Poplar finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while Harbin contributed 13 points and eight boards off the bench. However, DuBois struggled to convert opportunities in key moments, particularly from deep, making just 9-of-39 attempts from 3-point range.
Mont Alto was led by Veron Talla’s double double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Richard Burke chipped in 12 points, and Taralle Hayden added 12 off the bench.
Despite forcing 19 turnovers and scoring 20 points off those mistakes, DuBois couldn’t overcome Mont Alto’s dominance in the paint, where it was outscored 40-24.
Both teams now head into the USCAA Division II National Championship tournament, taking place in Buffalo through March 15. The Lady Lions, entering the tournament as the No. 10 seed, will face the University of Cincinnati-Clermont, the No. 7 seed, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11, at Erie Community College’s Burt Flickinger Athletic Center. The result from this game will determine when the Lady Lions play their second game in the tournament. If DuBois wins, the Lady Lions will face Central Maine Community College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. If DuBois falls in its first game, it will play a consolation game at 11: 15 a.m. on March 12 against an opponent to be determined.
The Nittany Lions, who enter the national championship tournament as the No. 7 seed, will also play on March 11. DuBois will take on Buck County Community College at the Villa Maria College Athletic Center at 12:15 p.m. If the Nittany Lions win, they will play the University of Cincinnati-Clermont at 8:15 p.m. on March 12. If DuBois loses its first game, it will play a consolation game at 9 a.m. on March 12 against an opponent to be determined.
Full details on the USCAA National Championship tournaments are available online.
For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.
