Trio Leads Nittany Lions Past Colgate

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three Nittany Lions scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Rasir Bolton with a career-best 27 points, as Penn State pulled away from Colgate for a 76-65 win at the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday afternoon. Redshirt junior forward Mike Wakins, making his first start of the 2018-19 season, and junior forward Lamar Stevens both recorded double-doubles in the victory.
 
"I like our defense, I like where we're at there," said Penn State coach Patrick Chambers. "Obviously we did a heck of a job rebounding today. I want to play with more pace and tempo, I think we have to push the ball more, we've got great speed…and I think we have to use it on the offensive end and play with more energy and pace to put defenses on their heels. Maybe put a group out there that's starting to get cohesive. I'm still mixing with lineups and I just changed the starting lineup today. So hopefully we could settle in on a starting lineup and settle on a rotation."
 
Watkins, making his first start of the 2018-19 season, recorded his 21st career double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds, with 12 points in the second half and 10 rebounds in the first. Stevens his sixth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
 
The double-double duo combined for 22 of the Nittany Lions' points in the second half and eight points in the final 4:04.
 
Reaves found Watkins on the baseline for a rim-shaking dunk with just over four minutes to play that gave Penn State a six-point lead, 63-57. Reaves finished his night with nine points and game-high totals in assists (5) and steals (3). With his three steals, Reaves tied former Tim Frazier for fourth on Penn State's career steals list with 193.
 
Watkins scored 12 of his 18 points in the final 10 minutes of the game which included his two free throws and layup in the final 2:24. Reaves added a trey with one minute left to push Penn State back to a double-digit lead. Bolton had his final two free throws for his career-best 27 total.
 
Baskets by Watkins and Stevens gave the Lions a brief nine-point lead with 9:27 to play. A three by Francisco Amiel drew Colgate back within six, and free throws by Will Rayman and Jordan Burns' three-straight field goals, including a trey, cut the Nittany Lion lead to only three before Penn State was able to pull away over the next two minutes.
 
Turnovers, a Penn State scoring drought and 60 percent shooting from the floor in the first 7:20 minutes of the second half opened the door for Colgate to pull within seven points, 53-46.
 
Penn State connected on seven 3-pointers in the first half as Bolton started 4-4 from behind the 3-point arc and had 17 points by the break. The Nittany Lions used a 10-0 run over four minutes to extend the led by as many as 19 points. For the third game this year, Penn State had double digits in 3-point field goals with 10 total.
                       
Colgate had three quick turnovers to start the game, and paired with points from Josh Reaves, Watkins and Bolton, gave Penn State an early 7-0 lead. The Raiders made a run during a Nittany Lion cold spell late in the half and scored 17 points. Stevens carried Penn State with three-straight jumpers to close the period.
 
Burns, the Raiders' leading scorer, had only three points at the half and finished with 10 for the game. Rayman had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead Colgate with two other Raiders in double digits.
 
The Nittany Lions play their next three games on the road, facing NC State on Saturday, Dec. 15 in the Boardwalk Classic in Atlantic City, N.J., then traveling to play at Duquesne (Dec. 19) and Alabama (Dec. 21).
 
Penn State returns to the BJC on Saturday, Dec. 29 with its final nonconference contest of the season vs. UMBC. Tip time is 1 p.m. For information or to purchase Penn State men's single-game tickets, visit  GoPSUsports.com/mbbsinglegametix or call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
Keep up to date with the latest information from Coach Chambers and the Nittany Lions on Twitter by following @Coach_Chambers and @PennStateMBB, on Facebook and Instagram at @PennStateMBB.