Sam Sessoms Season 2020-21

CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Career: Transferred to Penn State in summer 2020 after exceptional two-year career at Binghamton... Scored 20 or more points in 29 career games including a 40-point effort and four 30-point outings...Has four double-doubles…Received a waiver from the NCAA for immediate eligibility in 2020-21…Prior to Penn State, etched his name in Bearcat record books with seven single-game records and five freshman season marks...Finished his tenure at Binghamton second on the Bearcats' Division I-era career scoring list with 1,151 points...Reached 1,000 career point milestone in 57 games...Racked up 588 points as a freshman for Binghamton's second-highest single-season total in program history.. Finished in the top five in America East in both scoring and assists, one of only two of the league's players to accomplish that feat as a freshman and sophomore.

Season: 2021-22 (at Penn State): Played in all 31 games while making 10 starts…Led Nittany Lions with 42.0 percent (34-81) 3-point shooting percentage…Was third on the team in scoring with 11.6 ppg and second with 82 assists. 2020-21 (at Penn State): Played in 24 games in first season with Nittany Lions as key sixth-man player…Had nine double-digit scoring efforts and chipped in 8.2 points per game in first season at Penn State. 2019-20 (at Binghamton): Started in all 29 games...Led Bearcats in scoring 18 times and finished season with a 19.4 points per game average...Topped conference scoring chart with a 19.8 ppg...Averaged 4.8 assists per game. 2018-19 (at Binghamton): Started 32 of 33 contests...Averaged 17.8 points on 45 percent shooting...Led team in scoring on 22 occasions and had season total 115 assists (3.5 per game)...Had double figures in 25 games and posted 10 or more points in a stretch of 15-straight games.

AS A SENIOR – 2021-22
Awards: Academic All-Big Ten…Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team.

Season: Played in all 31 games while making 10 starts…Led Nittany Lions with 42.0 percent (34-81) 3-point shooting percentage…Was third on the team in scoring with 11.6 ppg and second with 82 assists…Tallied 19 double-digit scoring efforts, including two 20-point games.

Youngstown State (11/10): Started his first game at Penn State in season opener and stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds...14 of his 17 points came in the second half. St. Francis Brooklyn (11/18): Recorded first 20-point game as a Nittany Lion and 29th-career 20-point game with a game-high 26 points while shooting a blistering 10-for-13 (76.9%) from the field and 6-for-7 from the charity stripe. Cornell (11/22): Went off for six 3-pointers on a 6-for-7 effort from downtown, finishing with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Vs. LSU (11/26): Registered first double-double in a Penn State uniform with 13 points and 10 rebounds…All 13 points came in the second half and overtime…Added a game-high five assists and a block…Named to Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team. Wagner (12/8): Contributed an efficient 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting while adding five assists, three rebounds and two steals. At No. 19 Michigan State (12/11): Shot 50.0 percent (6-12) from the field for 12 points. Indiana (1/2): Tallied eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season in win, finishing with 10 points, 3 rebounds and an assist. Rutgers (1/11): Went off for game-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and a perfect 3-for-3 effort from deep while adding six assists to lead team to dominant win. At No. 16 Ohio State (1/16): Tallied 15 points, four rebounds and an assist. At No. 11 Wisconsin (2/5): Registered game-high 14 points behind 5-for-9 effort from the field and 2-for-3 showing from downtown. At Minnesota (2/12): Tied Big Ten career-high with 18 points while adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists. At Maryland (2/21): Tallied 17 points on 50 percent (7-14) shooting. Northwestern (2/25): Chipped in 12 points with the help of a trio of 3-pointers in Senior Night victory. Vs. Minnesota – Big Ten Tournament (3/9): Registered 14 points and five rebounds. Vs. Ohio State – Big Ten Tournament (3/10): Scored team-best 18 points on 58.3 percent (7-12) shooting to lead Penn State to postseason win over Buckeyes.

AS A JUNIOR – 2020-21
Season: Played in 24 games in first season with Nittany Lions as key sixth-man player…Had nine double-digit scoring efforts…Only Nittany Lion to score in double figures in first seven games, all off the bench…Grabbed 48 rebounds…Dished 56 assists…Had 32 steals…Shot career-best 75 percent from the field (6-8) against Illinois (12/23).

VMI (11/28): Made Penn State debut off bench and played 27 minutes…Scored 12 points…Added four assists and two rebounds…Had four steals to contribute to BJC single-game record as well as nation’s top steals per game ranking with 18. VCU (12/2): Recorded 17 points…Added two assists and two steals…Went 4-5 at the charity stripe…Was on the floor in final eight seconds of game as Nittany Lions won on buzzer-beater three. Seton Hall (12/6): Dished off team-high and season-high six assists. at No. 15 Virginia Tech (12/8): Put up 10 points with two treys…Dished off two assists…Had game-high two blocks…Added a steal. No. 18 Illinois (12/23): Shot career-best 75 percent (6-8) from the field. at Indiana (12/30): Recorded seventh consecutive game with at least 10 points, matching a then-season best with 17 points…Scored 12 points in the second half, including seven straight to give the Nittany Lions a one-point lead with 28 seconds remaining in regulation…Made season-best three 3-pointers…Added three assists and two steals…Played season-high 31 minutes in overtime contest. Rutgers (1/21): Scored all nine of his points in the first half (4-6 FG)…Had one triple…Tied for game-high three steals with Seth Lundy. Northwestern (1/23): Was efficient with 5-8 field goals and 12 points, seven coming in first period…Grabbed four rebounds. Maryland (2/5): Scored all six of his points in second half in tight win. at Michigan State (2/9): Netted two 3-pointers in second half to help Nittany Lions battle back against the Spartans…Had eight points and three assists. at Iowa (2/21): Shared game-high honors with six assists and three steals…Scored six points, all in first half. Minnesota (3/3): Tied for game-high in assists with Jamari Wheeler with five…Had zero turnovers…Added six points, three rebounds and a steal. at Maryland (3/7): Grabbed season-best seven rebounds, including two key defensive boards late…Had game-best three steals. vs. Nebraska (3/10): Scored 11 points in 15 minutes in Nittany Lions’ first round win in the Big Ten Tournament…Went 5-6 at the free-throw line, a season high…Recorded four steals. vs. Wisconsin (3/11): Was efficient with Penn State-best and season-high 18 points in Big Ten Tournament second round game…Went 7-11 from the field in 16 minutes…Added three assists.

BEFORE PENN STATE
AS A SOPHOMORE — 2019-20 – AT BINGHAMTON
Awards: Selected to the America East All-Conference second team...Earned two nods as America East Player of the Week (11/25 & 2/24)...Was named to the Lou Henson Award preseason Watch List and was included on the mid-season Watch List.

Season: Started in all 29 games...Led Bearcats in scoring 18 times and finished season with a 19.4 points per game average...Topped conference scoring chart with a 19.8 ppg...Averaged 4.8 assists per game...Had three double-doubles (2-points/rebounds, 1-points/assists) with back-to-back double-doubles in non-conference play...Recorded 16 games with 20-plus points and four with 30+ points. Finished season on a tear, averaging 30.8 points over the last four games with two of his top three career totals (39, 38)...Wrapped up season with a 6.8 assists-per-game average over last six outings.

Rankings: Led America East in scoring at a 19.4 ppg clip in all games and 19.8 in league games...Was one of only two America East players in league's 41-year history to finish in the top five in both the scoring and assists categories in freshman and sophomore years...Ranked in the top three in nine America East statistical categories and in the top five in 12...Was second in field goals made (208), assists per game (4.8), assists (138), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.39) and minutes per game (35.44)...Made 81.1 percent of his free throws for third in the league...Ranked 41st in the country in scoring and stands in ninth nationally with a career scoring average of 18.6 points per game.

at Cornell (11/5): Dished off five assists and started streak of five-straight games with at least two 3-pointers. at No. 1 Michigan State (11/10): Scored 12 points off five field goals...Pulled down seven rebounds. at Columbia (11/13): Racked up 23 points on nine field goals...Went 3-3 from free throw line...Snatched three steals. Sacred Heart (11/16): Connected on 11 field goals and added three free throws for 27-point performance and first of back-to-back double-doubles with career-best 12 rebounds...Began stretch of four games where he averaged 6.0 assists per game. at NJIT (11/20): Drove the lane for game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds left on clock...Made 11 field goals for second-straight game with then-season best five treys for season-best 33 points in 35 minutes...Accounted for 14 more points with five assists, four on 3-pointers...Tied career best with 12 rebounds...Had first block of season. Army West Point (11/23): Had 16 points off seven field goals and added seven assists...Started streak of shooting 100% at the line for four-straight games. SUNY Oneota (11/26): Matched previous game field goal total with seven and had 19 points to lead Bearcats to fourth-straight win. at Loyola, Maryland (12/1): Recorded sixth-straight game with seven or more field goals...Had 17 points. Colgate (12/4): Had six assists and nine points. Boston Univ. (12/7): Scored nine of his school record 40 points in overtime win with school-record 15 field goals and season-best six 3-pointers...Scored 28 of his record-setting total after halftime...Played career-high 43 minutes. at Pittsburgh (12/20): Scored 23 points off nine field goals, five coming from behind the arc. Hartwick (12/29): Finished non-conference portion of schedule with 15-point scoring effort and six rebounds...Set career steals mark with six...Had six assists. Albany (1/4): Shot 50 percent from the floor (8-16 FG, 4-8 3FG) and added two free throws for 22 points. UMBC (1/8): Posted back-to-back 20-point games in conference play with 20 points off eight field goals, including two triples. at Maine (1/19): Got back in scoring groove with 21 points...Shot 53.3 percent from floor (8-15) and 3-6 from behind arc...Added three steals to stat line. at Stony Brook (1/22): Keyed 10-2 run to knock off league-leading Sea Wolves on their home court...Finished 25-point performance with 17 points in the second half, including nine straight over 80 seconds...Tied career bests in rebounds and assists. New Hampshire (1/25): Rattled off third consecutive game with at least 20 points with 28...Reached career-high assists total for second-straight game and third time during season. Maine (2/8): Produced his third career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists...Also had seven rebounds. Stony Brook (2/12): Scored 22 to eclipse the 1,000-point scoring mark in his 57th collegiate game...Hit three 3-pointers and six field goals overall with seven points at the free throw line...Found teammates for seven assists...Had five rebounds. at Vermont (2/15):  Extended streak of games with four or more rebounds to seven with seven boards, all on defensive end. UMass Lowell (2/20): Played all 40 minutes and scored nearly half team’s points with 39 in 86-84 win, including the go-ahead basket with 20 seconds left in the game...Posted his fifth game of 30 or more points...Had double-digit total in field goals for 13th time in his career with 13 on 19 attempts (68.4 FG percentage)...Cashed in on career-best 11 free throws on 13 attempts...Had six assists and three steals. Hartford (2/22): Played all 40 minutes and scored 22 points off nine field goals...Had five assists and only one turnover. at UMBC (2/26): Shot 50 percent from field with nine field goals (9-18) and five of the team’s 14 triples (5-10) in upset of Retrievers on their home court...Assisted on six of his Bearcat teammates’ baskets. at New Hampshire (2/29): Ended season with 38-point effort (14-27 FG) with four treys and six points from charity stripe.

AS A FRESHMAN — 2018-19 – AT BINGHAMTON
Awards: Tabbed as a member of the CollegeInsider.com Kyle Macy Freshman All-America Team...Named the America East Rookie of the Year...Selected for All-America East third team...Earned America East Rookie of the Week honors seven times, most in Binghamton history and third-most in 40-year history of conference.

Season: Started 32 of 33 contests...Averaged 17.8 points on 45 percent shooting...Led team in scoring on 22 occasions and had season total 115 assists (3.5 per game)...Had double figures in 25 games and posted 10 or more points in a stretch of 15 straight games beginning with contest vs. Columbia (1/2/19) through game at Maine (3/2)...Scored 20 or more points in 11 games and 25 or more points in six games...Reached 30-point standard twice with 34 vs. Hartford (2/27/19) and 32 vs. UMass Lowell (1/23/19)...Had two of the top eight scoring performances in program history. Ended the season with four-straight games of 20 or more points scored and 30.75 ppg average...Made a combined 52.3 percent from field in final four games.

Rankings: Ranked fifth nationally for freshman scoring averages (17.8 ppg)...Was third in America East in scoring and fifth in assists, the first freshman to finish in top five in scoring and assists for Binghamton since Bearcat J.J. Barea in 2002-03...Had the second-highest freshman scoring average in 18 years of America East Conference history...Finished in the top five of seven league statistical categories...Was second in AE in field goals made (224) and 43rd nationally...Possessed the No. 2 spot on Bearcat single-season points chart (588) and scoring average.

Cornell (11/6): Made collegiate debut with 27 points off 12 field goals (12-20, 60 percent), including three 3-pointers...Pulled down five defensive rebounds. NJIT (11/9): Scored 13 points, five coming from free throw line. Misericordia (11/12): Led six Bearcats in double figures with game-high 18 points...Scored 15 points in first half...Snagged three steals. at Northwestern (11/16): Played then career-high 38 minutes...Had 11 points...Registered first career block. at Colgate (11/19): Grabbed seven rebounds for then-career high...Put up 19 points and started span of six-straight games as the Bearcats’ leading scorer. Sacred Heart (11/24): Led team in four categories: points (19), rebounds (8), assists (4) and minutes (35)...Flirted near 20-point mark with 19 points for second-straight game. at Army West Point (11/28): Matched career-best with three 3-pointers and hit 19-point mark again. Hartwick (12/1): Dished off for then-career-high five assists...Posted 17 points with perfect 6-6 mark coming from free throw line. at Morgan State (12/5): Drilled then-career best six triples and had eight overall field goals for 22 points. Loyola Maryland (12/8): Recorded first back-to-back 20-point scoring games with 20...Led team in assists category for seventh time (3). at Notre Dame (12/18): Netted 19 of his 25 points in the second half to keep Bearcats hanging around late in game...Hit then-career-best 11 field goals off 18 attempts...Added six rebounds and three assists to stat line. at LIU Brooklyn (12/21): Inbounded to J.C. Show for assist on game-winner to stun Blackbirds at the buzzer 68-67 at the Barclays Center...Had 11 points and six assists. at No. 12 Michigan (12/30): Brought Bearcats within three with a driving layup at 11:49 mark of second half. Columbia (1/2): Started streak of 16-straight games with 10 or more points scored...Stepped behind the arc for seven treys in a half for a school record and his then-career best...Added two two-point baskets for 25 total points...Had five assists and two steals. New Hampshire (1/5): Posted back-to-back 20-point scoring games for first time in career with 21 following 25-point performance vs. Lions. at Stony Brook (1/9): Tied then-career best with eight rebounds...Recorded 12 points in scoring column. at UMBC (1/16): Shot 54.5 percent from field (6-11) with three 3-pointers for 15 points. at Vermont (1/19): Led Bearcats with 19 points...Was perfect from the line at 4-4 and over last seven attempts. UMass Lowell (1/23): Hit 8-10 shots with four of his five 3-point attempts finding the bottom of the net for 22 points in 15 minutes of action in the first half...Finished night with then-career-best 32 points...Connected on 11 field goals, four from beyond arc...Added six points from free throw line. Maine (1/26): Scored 11 of his 14 points in second half...Added a pair of steals and had four assists. at Hartford (1/30): Tied his most accurate field goal percentage in conference play at 58.8 percent (10-17) and finished with 22 points. at Albany (2/2): Scored 13 points...Played career-high 40 minutes. Stony Brook (2/6): Scored 15 points and posted third-straight game with five assists. at New Hampshire (2/9): Scored 20 of his game-high 28 points in the second half to help compete series sweep. UMBC (2/13): Registered second-straight 20-point game with 23 points off 10-17 shooting from the field. at UMass Lowell (2/21): Scored 17 of his team-best 21 points in first half...Led four Bearcats with double-digit scoring totals. Recorded his third straight 20-point game (7 FG, 3 3FG). Vermont (2/23): Recorded fourth consecutive game with at least three 3-pointers. Hartford (2/27): Tied Binghamton single-game scoring record with 34 points for his second 30-point game of the season...Exploded for eight 3-pointers, also tying the school record...Had 24 points in the second half, second-highest single-half scoring total in Bearcat history. at Maine (3/2): Shot above 50 percent from the field for the fifth time in six games (5-9 FG, 55.6%) and had 13 points...Collected five defensive rebounds. at Stony Brook-AET (3/9): Led Bearcats to upset victory in quarterfinals over No. 2 seed with 26 points, 14 coming in the first half...Led team with career-best nine rebounds. Added three points in final 27 seconds to seal win.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a four-year standout at The Shipley School for coach Philip D’Ambrosio...Helped lead Gators to 68 wins during his career and berth in league championship game in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018...Was a three-time team MVP...Earned all-league and All-Mainline accolades all four years...Selected to all-state team twice with first-team honors as a senior...Ranked as one of the top scorers in Philadelphia with 28.8 points per game as senior and 23.0 ppg for his junior season...Scored school-record 2,091 career points...Collected 510 career rebounds and 202 steals...Totaled 402 career assists...Holds school single-game points record with 55 points vs. Perkiomen School (1/26/18) with 24 points in fourth quarter...Nominated for McDonald's All-American Game.

PERSONAL
Son of Samuel Sessoms Sr. and Agalelei Falaniko...Has two sisters, older sister Sapphira Johnson and younger sister Katie, and two younger brothers,  Sidney and Saint...Majoring in Sociology.