Penn State Falls to Butler at ESPN Events InvitationalPenn State Falls to Butler at ESPN Events Invitational
Penn State Athletics

Penn State Falls to Butler at ESPN Events Invitational

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Sophomore guard Kanye Clary scored a career-best 28 points, but it wasn't enough as the Nittany Lions fell 88-78 to Butler in Penn State's second game of the ESPN Events Invitational.
 
Clary went off for a career-high 28 points on 13-of-22 (59.1%) shooting and added five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Senior Ace Baldwin Jr. had 15 points, while juniors Nick Kern Jr. (12 points) and Zach Hicks (11 points) rounded out the double-digit scorers.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Neither team led by more than three in the opening 10 minutes until six-straight points from Nick Kern Jr. sparked a 16-4 Penn State streak that ran from the 11:56 to 7:09 mark of the first half. Penn State was 7-for-9 from the field during the stretch, which gave the Nittany Lions a 30-21 edge.
  • Butler stormed back and Penn State went cold from the field over the final 5:40 of the half. The Bulldogs shot 7-for-10 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the free throw line to comprise a 21-9 half-closing run and give Butler a slim 42-39 edge heading into halftime.
  • The Bulldogs spent the first 5:30 of the second half on a 15-8 streak to stretch their lead to double-digits at 57-47.
  • A pair of Clary driving layups sandwiched a Leo O'Boyle 3-pointer to comprise a 7-0 Penn State streak that brought the Nittany Lions back within three at 57-54 with 10:44 to play.
  • Penn State stayed within one or two possessions until Butler's Pierre Brooks drilled three triples to fuel an 11-3 Bulldog run and put Butler in front 75-64 with 5:14 to play.
  • The Nittany Lions pulled back within eight, but it was as close as Penn State would get the rest of the way as Butler secured the 88-78 win.

 
GAME NOTES

  • Penn State's 78 points are the second-most that Butler has allowed this season.
  • Kanye Clary's 28-point effort marked his third 20-plus point game in six contests thus far this season. He has scored in double digits in all six of Penn State's games.
  • Nick Kern Jr. recorded his first double-figure scoring game of the year, netting 12 points on a season-best 66.7 field goal percentage.
  • Zach Hicks scored 11 points and led the Nittany Lions with eight rebounds, his best rebounding mark as a Nittany Lion.

 
UP NEXT

  • The Nittany Lions will close out the three-game ESPN Events Invitational Sunday at 10:30 a.m. against the loser of tonight's Boise State/VCU game. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.

 
The 2023-24 Penn State men's basketball season is presented by Highmark Health.