Penn State Hazleton Mens Basketball Fall Semester Recap

Penn State Hazleton Mens Basketball Fall Semester Recap
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November 21, 2025

Penn State Hazleton men's basketball closed the fall semester with a competitive non-conference slate and a solid start in PSUAC play, highlighted by signature wins, high-scoring performances, and several marquee outings from its backcourt core. The Lions proved they could both run with NCAA Division II/I opponents on the road and take care of business at home, building momentum and identity heading into the spring portion of the season.


Statement conference win at DuBois


Hazleton's most complete performance of the semester came in a 105–66 road rout of Penn State DuBois, where the Lions shot an incredible 59.2% from the field and 92.3% at the line while piling up 42 made field goals. The offense was balanced and explosive: five players scored in double figures, led by Saivon Pressley (16 points, 4 assists, 5 steals), Shamell Ponds (14 points), Andre Campbell (12 points, 5 rebounds), and a perfect 5-for-5, 12-point effort from William Powell off the bench. Tyshaun Dukes added 10 points and 6 rebounds, and Hazleton dominated the stat sheet with 26 assists and a +5 rebounding margin, turning the game into a showcase of ball movement and depth.


Big home win vs. New Kensington

In PSUAC play, Hazleton protected its home court with an 83–72 win over Penn State New Kensington, shooting 46.7% from the floor and nearly 80% at the free-throw line. Andre Campbell delivered one of the semester's standout lines with 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting and 11-of-14 from the stripe, while Saivon Pressley added 16 points and 6 rebounds in another efficient outing. The supporting cast was strong as well: Jaden Aladetohun posted 5 points and 5 rebounds, Lazarus Carrasquilla chipped in 8 points on 2-of-3 shooting, and the bench combined for 25 points to keep Hazleton in control across both halves.


Testing themselves vs. Division I Lehigh

Hazleton's trip to Division I Lehigh showed the program's growth and toughness in a narrow 83–74 road loss where the Lions hung around for 40 minutes on a bigger stage. Hazleton shot 40.8% from the field and an impressive 41.7% from three, led by a breakout 27-point performance from Pressley (11-of-17, 5-of-8 from deep) and a strong 16-point, 4-rebound effort from Ponds off the bench. Tyshaun Dukes added 15 points and 8 rebounds, and Campbell finished with 13 points and 3 steals as Hazleton cut into Lehigh's lead repeatedly, proving it could score and compete against a Division I backcourt while committing just 10 turnovers as a team.


Early-season home battles and learning experiences


The fall also featured back-to-back home tests against PSUAC and USCAA foes that sharpened Hazleton's competitiveness. In a tight 77–81 loss to Penn State Fayette, the Lions got 29 points from Campbell on 8-of-15 shooting and 11-of-14 at the line, plus 16 points from Pressley and 11 from Aladetohun, while shooting nearly 68% at the stripe as a group. One night earlier, Hazleton fell 72–68 to Penn State Beaver despite 16 points from Ponds and 12 from Pressley; the Lions still posted 39.1% shooting and a 71.4% free-throw mark and matched Beaver on the glass with 36 rebounds.[Attachment +1]
Hazleton also challenged itself with tough road dates at Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, taking a 78–54 loss at Bloomsburg and a 72–37 setback at Lock Haven against strong PSAC programs. Even in defeat, players like Campbell (19 points at Bloomsburg) and Malachi Green (17 points at Lock Haven) logged valuable minutes, and the group gained experience handling pressure, physicality, and different defensive looks that will pay off in conference play.


Fall semester snapshot


Across the fall semester, Hazleton's offense consistently showed balance and high-end scoring potential, highlighted by a 105-point explosion at DuBois and multiple 80+ point nights at home. The guard trio of Campbell, Pressley, and Ponds set the tone—combining for numerous 20+ point performances—while contributions from Dukes, Aladetohun, McConkey, Powell, and others gave the Lions depth at every position. With quality wins, competitive showings against higher-division opponents, and an upward trend statistically, Hazleton exits the fall with confidence and a strong platform for a postseason push in the spring.[Attachment +4]