Lewis H. Bardo Gymnasium | Official Website
Lewis H. Bardo Gymnasium | Official Website
The University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team is preparing for its home opener against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES) on Thursday night. The game will begin at 7 p.m. at The Palestra in Philadelphia, following a narrow victory over NJIT that marked the start of their 2024-25 season.
The Quakers are coming off a dramatic comeback win, having trailed by 17 points before defeating NJIT with a final score of 58-57. This victory represents the earliest start to a season in the program's history, surpassing their previous record set in 2019.
Penn has historically faced programs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), holding a record of 6-3 against such teams. However, this will be only their second meeting with UMES; last year's encounter ended in an overtime loss for Penn when Elijah Wilson scored a decisive three-pointer.
Thursday's game will be available for viewing on ESPN+, and fans can listen through the Quaker Audio Network, with Matt Leon providing play-by-play commentary alongside analyst Brad Fadem.
The Quakers' roster has seen several changes this season, including three transfers: Ethan Roberts from Drake, Dylan Williams from Triton College, and Michael Zanoni from Mercer. Roberts was notably recognized as Patriot League Rookie of the Year while at Army in 2022-23. Additionally, four freshmen have joined the team: Bradyn Foster, AJ Levine, Alex Massung, and Michelangelo Oberti.
Returning players include seniors Reese McMullen, Nick Spinoso and George Smith; junior Cam Thrower; and sophomores Sam Brown, Augustus Gerhart and Niklas Polonowski—all of whom have recorded double-figure scoring games during their college careers.
Spinoso led Penn with seven rebounds during Monday's game against NJIT. Williams contributed significantly with 17 points in that match-up. Notably, Roberts scored nine points in the final minutes against NJIT to secure Penn's win.
For more updates on Penn men's basketball throughout the season, follow @PennMBB on social media or visit PennAthletics.com.
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