ABINGTON, Pa. -- Penn College flexed its muscles in a complete-game effort, 80-61 victory at Penn State Abington on Thursday night. The victory moved the Wildcats to 3-0 in United East play, 5-7 overall, and marked the program's best league start in the NCAA era. Abington fell to 0-3 UE, 0-11 overall.

How it happened: The Wildcat seniors produced one of their best collective performances to kick off the 2025 calendar as Gavin Barrett registered his seventh career double-double, Livingston Cross produced his fourth consecutive double-double and Ronn Flood, Jr. added 12 points as the Wildcats led for the full 40 minutes to earn the victory. 

The Wildcats went on a game-opening 15-5 run over the first five minutes of action, a Michael Woolridge layup capped the run. Woolridge scored a pair of layups, Christian Chandler was hot early with five points, Cross dropped a bucket and Barrett converted on a pair of quick free throws helping the Wildcats take their first double-digit lead of the night. 

After Barrett fed Cross on his fifth assist of the half to give the Wildcats the largest first-half lead of 26-12 with 11 minutes remaining, Abington worked to cut the deficit to just two, 37-35, with just under two minutes remaining, but a DJ Smith III and Cross layups were enough for the Wildcats to finish the half with a 42-37 lead.

Abington pulled within three, 50-47 with 13 minutes in the second half before the Wildcats started pulling away. Barrett polished off his triple-double with a pair of free throws with 9:22 to go and followed with a triple to stretch the score, 65-51, on the next Wildcat possession.  A Cross bucket with 4:55 remaining handed Penn College its largest lead of the night, 75-55, as the Wildcats finished off the game. 

Inside the box: Barrett finished with 18 points, a career-best 15 rebounds and 12 assists while also adding two steals. Cross produced his first 30-point game of the season while grabbing 11 boards for his 10th double-double of the season. Woolridge (7), Julien Leveille, (6) and Chandler (5) also found the scoring column in the win. 

Up next: Penn College returns to Bardo Gymnasium on Saturday against Penn State Harrisburg at 3 p.m.