Pitt Holds Off Penn State in Palestra Rivalry Game

The Panthers took the lead into halftime after Penn State went ahead 35-28 with just over five minutes left in the first half. Pitt answered with a 14-3 run, then held off a late push to secure the six-point win. The game was played before 2,178 fans at the Palestra, which is marking its 100th year.

Sumler led all scorers with 26 points, including 18 after halftime. Pitt had to adjust when guard Naithan George and forward Baye Ndongo got into foul trouble. Sumler took on more ball-handling duties, while eight of the nine Panthers who played scored. Penn State’s Dasonte Bowen led his team with 17 points.

Pitt guard Jalil Bethea, a former Archbishop Wood standout, returned to the arena for the first time as a winner. He scored seven points in 19 minutes. Coach Jeff Capel said Bethea’s second-half drives helped the Panthers, and that the team had wanted to secure a victory for him there.

The matchup was held in Philadelphia as part of the Palestra centennial and continued a recent neutral-site tradition: the teams also played at Hershey’s Giant Center last season. Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said the program would return to the Palestra. He wished the game had been scheduled for a Saturday rather than Sunday night, which he said could have helped attendance.