Second-Half Surge Leads Nittany Lions to 98-70 Win

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. – A strong second half by the Penn State men's basketball team secured its fourth win of the season with a 98-70 win over Bucknell on Tuesday, November 19. Senior forward Lamar Stevens poured in a season-high 27 points in the victory in the Bryce Jordan Center, including 21 of the Nittany Lions' 53 second-half points to lead the charge.

Penn State opened the season with its fourth-straight 80-plus point game for the first time in program history.

"I knew that they (Bucknell) had some really incredible firepower, so we definitely didn't take them lightly," said Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers. "I thought our defense in the second half was unbelievable. We had a really good job in stances, really communicating, and limiting them to one shot…I thought Lamar Stevens showed why he's a candidate for Player of the Year and All-American. He really stepped up and his energy, his effort and his enthusiasm has really domino-ed through the rest of the team."

Stevens and senior forward Watkins went a combined 20-28 from the field in the victory and Penn State benefitted from 60 percent shooting from the field and 58 points in the paint to take control of the game.

Mike Watkins finished with 18 points and grabbed five rebounds and blocked four shots. His fourth rebound of the night moved him into sole possession of the No. 5 spot on Penn State's career rebounding list, now with 757.

Connecting on eight of his 10 field goal attempts in the second half, Stevens started the second stanza with the Nittany Lions' first eight points to take a 53-42 lead. Penn State clicked into a higher gear when Stevens pulled down his own missed attempt and started a stretch where Penn State went 8-8 with Stevens' two baskets, junior guard Jamari Wheeler and Watkins adding two and getting one each from sophomore guards Izaiah Brockington and Myreon Jones.

The Nittany Lions led by only three at the half, 45-42. Bucknell made five straight and 7-of-9 baskets over a 4:08 stretch to pull within two at 35-33. A Jamari Wheeler fast break layup followed by a Wakins' dunk after the media timeout pushed the Nittany Lion lead back to six points.

Penn State and Bucknell traded baskets in the last 75 seconds of the first period with the Bison getting as close as one point, 43-42, off a Bruce Moore 3-pointer. Nittany Lion Curtis Jones scored his seventh point of the half with a field goal to arrive at the halftime score.

Myles Dread added four 3-pointers in Tuesday's win and finished with 12 points. Wheeler was a perfect 5-5 from the field and had his fifth career double-figure scoring game. Stevens added eight rebounds, three steals and an assist and a block to his stat line.

Bucknell had four starters in double figures led by Andrew Funk with 15 and Moore with 14. Paul Newman had the game-high total in rebounds with nine.

Penn State plays Yale at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 in the Bryce Jordan Center in the second game of its NIT Season Tip-Off homestand.

For more information about single-game tickets or the mobile flex plan for men's basketball, visit the online ticket information page 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.