UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's basketball team (1-0) pays tribute to Veterans Day with a military appreciation game vs. Wagner at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, The Nittany Lions are coming off a 84-46 season-opening win as senior forward Lamar Stevens scored 17 points to lead six Nittany Lions in double-figure scoring. Stevens' dunk off a Jamari Wheeler glass pass was the No. 5 play of the day on SportsCenter. Senior forward Mike Watkins registered his 27th career double-double with 12 points and a game-best 11 rebounds.
This is only the fourth meeting all-time between Penn State and Wagner with the Nittany Lions winning all three previous meetings. Coach Patrick Chambers is 1-0 against the Seahawks after a 74-62 win on Nov. 9, 2013 in the BJC.
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LISTEN: WRSC 1390 State College
Joe Putnam (pxp) & Dick Jerardi (analyst)
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TICKETS:
Single-game tickets | Mobile Flex Plan
The Penn State Athletics Ticket Office at the Bryce Jordan Center opens three hours before tipoff on gameday.
PROMOTIONS:
- Military appreciation game – promotional rate for active and retired military
- National anthem with flag presented across basketball court
- The first 500 students in attendance receive a #24 Mike Watkins jersey T-shirt
- Fans who dress in "road whites" can purchase single-game tickets (Adults $10, youth 12 and under $5)
- Fans can watch the conclusion of the Penn State/Minnesota football game
- Post-game autograph session with Taylor Nussbaum and Mike Watkins.
DIGITAL PROGRAM
LIVE STATS: Wagner at Penn State
SOCIAL: Twitter @PennStateMBB & @Coach_Chambers | Facebook | Instagram @PennStateMBB.
ROSTER: Penn State | Wagner
SCHEDULE: Penn State | Wagner
STATS: Penn State | Wagner
GAME NOTES: Penn State | Wagner | Big Ten
MEDIA GUIDE: Penn State | Wagner | Big Ten
WAGNER
Coach: Bashir Mason (Drexel, 2007)
Record at Wagner: 123-97 (Eighth season)
Career Record: Same
2019-20 Record: 0-1, 0-0 NEC
Top Scorer
#2 Alex Morales, Jr., G – 17.0 ppg
Top Rebounder
#0 Patrick Szpir, Gr., F – 11.0 rpg
Assists Leader
#2 Alex Morales, Jr., G – 5.0 apg
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Coach: Patrick Chambers (Philadelphia, 1994)
Penn State Record: 128-140 (9th season)
Career Record: 170-168 (11th season)
2018-19 Record: 1-0, 0-0 Big Ten
Top Scorer
#11 Lamar Stevens, Sr., F – 17.0 ppg
Top Rebounder
#24 Mike Watkins, Sr., F – 11.0 rpg
Assists Leader
#0 Myreon Jones, So., G – 6.0 apg
STARTING 5
Penn State scored 80 or more points in a season opener for the fourth-straight year. Prior to this stretch, the last time the Nittany Lions had 80+ points in an opening game was on Nov. 22, 2000.
Senior Mike Watkins had seven blocks vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, most since Dec. 4, 2017 game vs. Wisconsin. His total is tied for best in the Big Ten.
Watkins' first block in the first half of Tuesday's game gave him 200 for his career. His 206 career total ranks No. 1 among all active NCAA players.
With 12 points and 11 rebounds, Watkins registered his 27th career double-double, second behind John Amaechi's 38 (tabulated since the 1976-77 season).
Sophomore guard Myles Dread's five 3-point field goals vs. UMES are the most by a Nittany Lion in a season opener in Penn State's Big Ten era.
SERIES VS. WAGNER
Saturday's game marks the fourth meeting between Penn State and Wagner.
Dec. 21, 1985 – at University Park, Rec Hall – Penn State 88, Wagner 87
Dec. 18, 2000 – at University Park, BJC -- Penn State 100, Wagner 91
Nov. 9, 2013 – at University Park, BJC -- Penn State 74, Wagner 62
Series streak: Penn State, W3
Overall series: Penn State 3-0
Chambers vs. Wagner: 1-0
MOST TRIPLES IN OPENER
Dating back to the 1992-93 season, Penn State connected for its most 3-point field goals in a season opener with 12 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore. The most previously was 10 in the 2011-12 opener, coach Patrick Chambers' first season.
Sophomore Myles Dread connected on five 3-pointers vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, the most by a Nittany Lion in a season opener in Penn State's Big Ten era.
STEVENS LEADS SIX LIONS IN DOUBLE FIGURES WITH 17
Six Nittany Lions scored in double figures in the 2019-20 season opener with an 84-46 win over Maryland Eastern Shore Tuesday at the Bryce Jordan Center. Lamar Stevens had a team-best 17 points on 50-percent shooting from the field and Mike Watkins posted his 27th career double-double with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Penn State extended a 37-17 halftime lead with a 22-5 run over the first seven minutes of the second half. That stretch included eight field goals on nine attempts from the field. PSU shot 59.3 percent for the half and finished the night at 50 percent (29-59). Defensively, the Nittany Lions held the Hawks to only 33.3 percent shooting for the game.
The Nittany Lions continued with a stout defense, relentless rebounding and strong shooting in the second half. Penn State forced 19 turnovers and made eight of its 12 three pointers in the second stanza to cruise to the win. For the game, Penn State had a 42-32 rebounding advantage.
Watkins was dominant on both ends of the floor. He registered his 200th block of his career in the first half and added six more for seven on the night, his highest blocked shot total since Dec. 4, 2017 vs. Wisconsin. He was not called for any personal fouls.
Penn State opened the game on a 9-0 run and led the Hawks 20-12 midway through the first half. Stevens and Izaiah Brockington combined for 11 points over a three-minute span to help Penn State open up the game and take a 33-14 lead.
AJ Cheeseman had a team-best nine points for the Hawks and Gabriel Gyamfi and Glen Anderson each had four rebounds.
STEVENS ON MALONE AWARD WATCH LIST
Lamar Stevens was named as one of 20 players on the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward Watch List as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
New this year, Nittany Lion fans can participate in the voting for Stevens at http://www.hoophallawards.com.
Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the honor recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee of college basketball personnel determined the list of 20 candidates.
BY THE NUMBERS
4
For the fourth-straight year, Penn State scored 80 or more points in its season opener.
6
Number of Nittany Lions with 10+ points vs. UMES. The last time Penn State had six players in double-digit scoring was Nov. 20, 2017 vs. Pitt.
11
Number of blocked shots vs. UMES, highest Penn State team total
since December 2017 vs. Indiana.
12
Number of 3-point field goals in the 2019-20 opener, highest team total in an opener in PSU's Big Ten era.
27
Career double-doubles by Mike Watkins after his 12 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday night.
38
Margin of victory in the 2019-20 season opener, matching the
1989-90 opener and largest since the 1987-88 opener (51), both against Juniata.
61.9
Career field goal percentage – and Penn State record – by Mike Watkins (367-593), including his 5-6 effort from the field vs. UMES.
736
Career rebounds by senior Mike Watkins to move him to eighth on Penn State's all-time list.
"HOME" COMING AT THE PALESTRA
Six Nittany Lions have ties to Philadelphia, as does coach Patrick Chambers, the all-time assists leader for Herb Magee at Philadelphia University. Penn State will play host to Iowa on Jan. 4, 2020, at The Palestra for a "home" game in Philadelphia. Tickets for this game are available for purchase at gopsusports.com/mbbphilly.