ROSEMONT, Ill. – Penn State junior forward Lamar Stevens was named to the All-Big Ten Conference men's basketball first team by the league's coaches, as announced Monday. Stevens is one of only two players to rank in the conference's top 10 in scoring and rebounding in all league games with a 20.0 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game average.
"Lamar's value to this team is immeasurable," said Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers. "It would be really easy to take Lamar's consistency for granted because he does what he does without any fanfare. We wouldn't be having the success we have had, both now and throughout his career, without his contributions as a player and as a leader."
Stevens moved into Penn State's top five in all-time scoring in the final regular-season game of 2018-19 and now has 1,636 career points. He became only the second Nittany Lion third-year student-athlete to amass 1,500 career points, accomplishing that feat the fastest in program history, He ranks 24th nationally among NCAA Division I players with at least 1,500 career points and 600 rebounds.
From North Wales, Pennsylvania, Stevens has started and played in every game in his three-year career (103 games to date) for the second-longest starting streak in the nation and longest by a junior. He has led the league in average minutes played per game (36:39) throughout the 2018-19 season.
Stevens recorded 20-plus point outings in nine of the last 13 games and 17 times in 2018-19 while scoring in double figures in all but one game in 2018-19. He now has nine double-doubles and has 84 career games with at least 10 points.
The leading scorer with 20+ points in both wins over ranked B1G opponents with game-best 26 vs. #6 Michigan and 24 vs. #17 Maryland, he was one point shy of tying his career-best total with 29 points in home win over Nebraska and added eight rebounds to his stat line in that contest.
Stevens was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the league's media members.
The Nittany Lions, the No. 10 seed in the 2019 Big Ten Tournament, face No. 7 seed Minnesota Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT in the United Center in Chicago.
For information or to make a 2019-20 Penn State men's basketball season ticket deposit, fans should visit https://gopsusports.com/sb_output.aspx?form=90 or call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Keep up to date with the latest information from Coach Patrick Chambers and the Nittany Lions on Twitter by following @Coach_Chambers and @PennStateMBB, liking the team's page on Facebook and following the team Instagram account at @PennStateMBB.
