Nov. 15, 2014
By Matt Allibone, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Entering the 2014-'15 season, there was little doubt about the type of production D.J. Newbill would give the Penn State men's basketball team.
A year after leading the team in scoring and being named second team All-Big Ten, Newbill was fully expected to lead the Nittany Lions' offense. The question was, who would complement him in the team's backcourt?
After one game, the Lions may have found the answer in true freshman Shep Garner. Against Morgan State, the 6-foot-1 guard looked mature beyond his years in a 61-48 Penn State victory.
"He is fearless," head coach Patrick Chambers said. "I'm proud of the way he competed. We obviously needed his production tonight."
In the first game of his college career, Garner not only started, he also finished second on the team with 14 points while shooting an impressive 67 percent (6-for-9 shooting) from the field.
More importantly, he jelled extremely well with the senior Newbill, as the guard duo combined for more than half of the team's points (31 of 61) and were the only Nittany Lions to make more than one 3-pointer.
Newbill, who led the tem in scoring with 17 points and added seven rebounds and three assists for good measure, praised the freshman for his assertiveness on the court.
"I told him before the game, `you earned the right to start, so take advantage of this opportunity,'" Newbill said. "I thought he played great and he played with confidence. There's not much more to say about that."
For a player less than a year removed from high school, Garner seemed extremely relaxed about stepping into a starting role.
Although he missed his first two shots and didn't score his first basket until the 8:13 mark of the first half, the Chester, Pennsylvania, native settled down as the game went along, only missing once more the rest of the way.
"I was excited, you know, first college game was like a dream come true," Garner said. "I just couldn't wait to get on the floor with my brothers and play with them."
During a game in which the Lions struggled to shoot early on, the strong performances of both guards was greatly needed.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Lions trailed the Bears 16-9 and had converted just three field goals in 11:47 of playing time. In a 43 second span, Garner got on the score sheet with a nifty layup and Newbill drained a 3-pointer to narrow the deficit to 16-14.
From that point on, Penn State gained control, going on a 13 to two scoring run that led to a 31-25 halftime lead.
"It was the first game, and I feel we were just super excited," Newbill said. "We were just excited to be out there playing another team and we kind of just had to relax. It's just something we gotta work on."
In the second half, the pair stayed hot, combining for the team's first seven points of the period in a four-minute span as the Lions began to pull away.
Garner, who would finish 4-for-4 on the night on 2-point shots, hit a pair of 3-pointers and combined with Newbill to shoot 50 percent from beyond the arc.
Afterwards, the first-year player praised the senior captain for his help in preparing him for a starting role.
"I learn so much from him," Garner said. "From when I first got here, I just picked his brain all day long. I probably get annoying sometimes. He played point guard here for a whole year so I ask him every question I can to get as much information as possible."
As the year progresses, it is likely that the two guards will take turns playing on and off the ball, as Newbill has significant experience playing both point and shooting guard.
It is that kind of versatility that Chambers believes is a paramount to the team's future success. While Newbill's production is a constant, the Lions will need variety of players to perform behind him in various roles.
That's why the fourth-year coach was so happy for Garner on Friday. The freshman was handed the opportunity to prove himself and exceeded expectations.
"The kid earned the right to start because he gets it done on both ends of the floor," Chambers said. "It just shows his, and ours - as a team and a staff and a program - our confidence in him to make plays."
Garner was not the only member of his family to have a standout performance Friday night. His mother, Kim, sang the national anthem before the game.
For a player getting his first start, hearing his mother's voice was a great way to lessen the pressure.
"My mom sang the national anthem for my team in high school, so I was kind of used to it," Garner said. "At the this stage, you wouldn't think your mom would sing the national anthem. It was exciting."