STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and defensive pressure, the Penn State Nittany Lions remained undefeated Tuesday night, pulling away in the second half to defeat the Navy Midshipmen 80 to 71 before a crowd of 5,772 at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions improved to 3 wins and 0 losses on the young season, while Navy fell to 1 and 2.

The contest was a tale of two distinct offensive philosophies. Penn State’s victory was fueled by a blistering offensive rating of 118.4, scoring 80 points on just 68 possessions. Navy, while efficient in its own right with an offensive rating of 100.5, could not keep pace, scoring 71 points from 71 possessions. The disparity was largely created by Penn State’s ability to capitalize on mistakes, scoring 17 points off of 16 Navy turnovers, while the Midshipmen managed 15 points from nine Penn State giveaways.

Despite a valiant effort from Navy’s standout performers, Penn State’s depth and transition game proved decisive. The Nittany Lions dominated fastbreak points, 20 to 8, and controlled the glass with 11 offensive rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Penn State taking a narrow 38 to 32 lead into the break. Navy opened the scoring with an and-one play from Donovan Draper just 55 seconds into the game, but Penn State quickly responded. The teams traded baskets for much of the period, with Navy’s Jinwoo Kim and Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V providing early offensive sparks. A key sequence late in the half saw Penn State’s Dominick Stewart hit back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the lead, but a driving layup from Draper at the halftime buzzer kept the Midshipmen within striking distance.

Penn State began to create separation early in the second half. A 7-0 run, capped by a Melih Tunca three-pointer assisted by Kayden Mingo, forced a Navy timeout with 16:12 remaining and the Nittany Lions leading 47 to 40. Navy continued to fight, with Kim connecting from deep and Austin Benigni orchestrating the offense, but every Midshipmen push was met with a Penn State answer.

The Nittany Lions put the game away in the final five minutes. Leading 70 to 66, Penn State engineered a critical 8-2 run. A driving layup from Mingo was followed by free throws from Freddie Dilione V and Tunca, extending the lead to 78 to 68 with just over a minute to play. A late three-pointer from Kim brought Navy back within single digits, but Mingo sealed the victory with an offensive rebound and putback with 32 seconds left.

Individual performances highlighted the night. For Navy, Donovan Draper of West Palm Beach, Florida, was a force, recording a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds to go with 4 assists in 39 minutes. Jinwoo Kim of Overland Park, Kansas, led all scorers with a game-high 25 points. Austin Benigni of The Woodlands, Texas, facilitated the offense with 12 points and 8 assists, while Aidan Kehoe of Montvale, New Jersey, controlled the paint with 10 rebounds.

Penn State’s attack was more balanced and opportunistic. Kayden Mingo of Farmingdale, New York, filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Freddie Dilione V of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was a catalyst off the bench, pouring in 19 points. Josh Reed of Atlanta, Georgia, added 11 points and 6 rebounds, and Melih Tunca of Istanbul, Turkey, chipped in 13 points. The Nittany Lions’ defense was also a key factor, tallying 14 steals as a team.

From the field, Penn State shot 30 for 61, while Navy was 26 for 54. Both teams made six three-pointers, but Penn State’s ability to get to the line more frequently and convert, making 14 of 18 free throws compared to Navy’s 13 of 14, provided a crucial margin. The Nittany Lions also won the battle in the paint, outscoring Navy 44 to 36.

The Nittany Lions will look to continue their winning streak on Saturday when they face La Salle in Philadelphia. Navy returns to action Friday to host Washington College.