The Berkeley College men's basketball team split a pair of games in recent days, falling Penn State Mont Alto by a score of 87-77 on Sunday afternoon, before turning around a day later and turning back Penn State Du Bois, 81-80. With that 1-1 output, the Knights are now 6-8 on the 2024-2025 campaign. Mont Alto improved to a mark of 12-2 on the year, while Du Bois fell to 4-11.

In the Knight's loss to Mont Alto, Karif Isaacs scored a team-high 19 points, hitting four trifectas in the process. Ike Sheppard finalized his day with 13 points (5-6 FT) while tying for game-highs of seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals, and Julio Wallace contributed 12 points and three rebounds. Finally, it was Jerald Campbell scoring 10 points and tallying three steals.

All five starters scored in double figures for Mont Alto, including Jonathan Pang, and his 21 points led all players. Bryson Fleming netted 13 points while snatching four rebounds, and Veron Talla added 12 points while tying for game-highs of seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Richard Burke and Caleb Eckert netted 10 points apiece, with Burke contributing four rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals, and Eckert finalizing his day with three rebounds and two dimes.

The Knights' biggest lead of the game came 3:11 into the opening half when Jesse Taylor drained a triple to put Berkeley up five, 13-8. Over the ensuing 6:40, neither squad took more than a five-point lead until Burke made a driving layup with 10:09 left in the half to put the hosts up six, 27-21. Mont Alto gradually built its advantage from there, outscoring Berkeley 26-17 the remainder of the half to take a commanding 53-38 edge at the break.

After trailing by as many as 16 in the second half (58-42), the Knights put forth a hearty comeback attempt, eventually pulling to within six (81-75) with 3:25 left following a layup by Sheppard. Unfortunately, Berkeley would only score two points the rest of the way, as Mont Alto held on for a 10-point win (87-77).

Both teams shot well from the floor, with Mont Alto earning a conversion rate of 49.2 percent (31-63), and Berkeley hitting on 26 out of 60 attempts (43.3 percent). The Knights held a 39-33 edge on the glass, but Mont Alto registered 18 assists compared to 13 for the visitors. The home school also won the turnover battle, committing just 18 miscues compared to 20 for Berkeley.

In the Knights' thrilling victory over Du Bois, newcomer DeMarco Watson scored a team-high 20 points while leading all players with 12 rebounds. He also tallied three steals, as well. Yasin Abdur-Rashid added 14 points, four caroms, and three steals, and Campbell finalized his evening with 13 points and four rebounds. Finally, it was Sheppard and Isaacs recording 10 points apiece.

Du Bois was paced by Kyron Harbin's game-high 29 points (11-22 FG). His nine rebounds were a team-high, and he also added five steals. Beau Verdill finished with 14 points, a game-high six steals, and four rebounds, and Kaleb Pryor recorded 10 points while snatching four rebounds.

Trailing 46-43 at halftime, Berkeley started the second half by going on a 15-2 run over a span of 6:07 to take a 58-48 advantage. The hosts responded with a 9-0 run over a span of 92 seconds to inch to within one (58-57) with still 12:21 remaining in the game.

It looked multiple times as if the Knights were going to pull away, as Berkeley held advantages of 74-65 and 79-71, but Du Bois refused to go away. A three-point basket by Harbin tied the game at 80-apiece with exactly 1:00 remaining. Only one point would be scored inside the final minute – a Watson converted free throw. Harbin had an opportunity to win the game with a jumper at the buzzer, but he misfired, giving Berkeley the hard-fought triumph.

For the game, the Knights shot 50 percent from the floor (27-54), while Du Bois earned just a 37.1 percent conversion rate (26-70). Berkeley held a commanding 44-31 edge on the glass, but Du Bois was much more efficient from the free throw line, draining 19 of its 24 attempts there (79.2 percent), while the Knights misfired on 14 free throw attempts (22-36, 61.1 percent). Penn State Du Bois won the turnover battle, committing 24 miscues, while the visitors finished with 28.

Berkeley will begin a five-game homestand on Wednesday evening, as the Knights welcome Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) to Achievement First Brooklyn High School for an NACIA contest. Start-time is scheduled for 8:30pm.