UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's basketball team won its fourth-straight game and closed out regular-season non-conference play with a 60-46 win over Delaware State Thursday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Nittany Lion defense held its opponent under 50 points for the first time this season as Penn State limited Delaware State to 46 points and a 30.4 percent showing from the field.
Senior Seth Lundy returned to action following a one-game injury layoff and notched his second double-double of the season with a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. Andrew Funk chipped in 12 points, while Jalen Pickett added 10 points and six assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A trio of 3-pointers in the opening 4:21 helped Penn State take an early 13-5 lead. The Hornets answered with the next eight points to knot the score at 13-13 just over seven minutes into the game.
- A Lundy 3-pointer and layup from Michael Henn snapped the Delaware State streak before the Penn State defense took control to close out the first half, holding the Hornets to just four field goals in the final 13:27 and forcing eight DSU turnovers. The Nittany Lions suffered a cold shooting remainder of the term, but the defensive effort helped Penn State take a 27-22 lead into halftime.
- The Hornets got within three just over two minutes into the second half, but Penn State responded with a 7-0 streak as the Nittany Lions held DSU scoreless for nearly five minutes to go up 39-29 with 13:48 to play.
- Penn State's lead reached 13 at 44-31 following a Funk 3-pointer and floater from Dallion Johnson, but DSU answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from O'Koye Parker to trim the Nittany Lion lead to 46-39 with 8:29 on the clock.
- The Hornets wouldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way as Penn State's defense continued its dominance and DSU shot just 2-for-13 from the field for the remainder of the game. The Nittany Lion lead reached as much as 16 and Penn State walked away with the 60-46 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Penn State sits 10-3 on the season and finishes non-conference play at 9-2.
- The Nittany Lion defense held Delaware State to 46 points, marking the first time this season that Penn State held its opponent under 50 points. The Nittany Lions have now held 12 of their 13 opponents under 70 points and five of their 13 opponents under 60 points.
- Lundy notched his second double-double of the season and led the team in scoring for the fourth time this year.
- Funk tallied his eighth double-digit scoring effort, while Pickett scored double-digit points for the 11th time this season.
- Myles Dread scored six points and now sits nine points away from the 1,000-career point mark.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry
Andrew Funk and Seth Lundy
UP NEXT
- Big Ten play begins in earnest Sunday evening when the Nittany Lions host Iowa in a New Year's Day Big Ten battle at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
The 2022-23 Penn State men's basketball season is presented by Highmark Health.