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Penn State basketball falls apart late, losing to Rutgers

On Sunday night, the Penn State Nittany Lions blew a 19 point lead against the Scarlet Knights at the BJC.

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Penn State basketball
Feb 1, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Jalen Pickett (22) reacts during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers won 80 to 60. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — On Sunday, the Penn State Nittany Lions (17-12, 8-10 Big Ten) took on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (18-11, 10-8 Big Ten) in one of the most important basketball games at the Bryce-Jordan Center in State College, PA. With its back against the wall and tournament hopes on the line, Penn State basketball lost a close one against the quad two Scarlet Knights.

Penn State basketball mauls Rutgers in first half

The Scarlet Knights won the game’s opening tip, though neither team managed to score throughout the first two minutes of the game. Rutgers got on the board first with a long 3-ball and managed to add to their lead on the following possession, but Penn State basketball kept it close with a series of baskets. A Kebba Njie dunk made it a 5-4 ballgame before the Scarlet Knights took a timeout with 15:31 remaining in the half.

Right out of the timeout, Penn State guard Cameron Wynter gave the Nittany Lions a two-point lead with a long 3-pointer — Rutgers ran out of time on their next trip down the floor, and Penn State regained possession. Wynter pushed Penn State’s lead to 10-5 on his next trip down the floor with another 3-pointer; he attempted a third in a row, yet it rang off the front iron.

Penn State’s lead grew to seven behind a Jalen Pickett fadeaway — Rutgers failed to respond, and on PSU’s next trip down the court, Pickett added another two. Rutgers was forced to take a timeout with 11:12 remaining in the half; Penn State basketball held a 14-5 lead after scoring 10 unanswered points. Out of the timeout, Penn State laid on the gas with another nine points — the Nittany Lions’ run improved to 19-2, and Rutgers was forced to take another timeout.

Out of the timeout, Rutgers brought the game within 14 before freshman guard Kanye Clary pushed Penn State’s lead back to 16. The Lions collected a defensive rebound, took it down the court, and Kebba Njie was fouled under the basket right before a TV break. After the break ended, Njie drilled one of his two free throws, which gave Penn State a 26-9 lead over the Scarlet knights with 7:30 remaining.

The two teams traded defensive possessions for a while until the game’s scoring drought was ended by Rutgers, who landed a layup to make the score 26-11 in PSU’s favor. Cam Wynter responded on Penn State’s next trip down the floor, though Rutgers buried a 3-ball immediately after, making the score 28-14. Jalen Pickett missed his free throw out of the break, but he sunk a 3-pointer the next time he touched the ball, pushing Penn State’s lead to 31-14. Rutgers pieced together a small run before the half ended, making the halftime score Penn State 31, Rutgers 21.

First half stats

  • Penn State basketball shot 48.1% from the floor.
  • Nittany Lions were led in points by Jalen Pickett (11) and Cam Wynter (10) in the first half.
  • PSU shot 30.8% from behind the 3-point arc.
  • Penn State and Rutgers both had 32 possessions, and both collected 21 rebounds in the first.

Gritty second half sees Rutgers pull past Penn State basketball

Right out of the break, Penn State basketball scored nine unanswered before Rutgers chipped away at the Lions’ lead. Penn State basketball took a 19-point lead and forced a Scarlet Knight timeout with the score at 42-23. The Knights immediately buried a 3-pointer and a free throw to make it a 42-27 game at the media timeout with 16:00 remaining in the game.

Out of the break, Rutgers sunk a three to bring the game within 12 — it seemed as if the Nittany Lions were close to blowing the game wide open, yet for some reason, couldn’t. A pair of Scarlet Knight free throws made it a 10-point game once again before super senior forward Michael Henn sunk a three to restore Penn State’s lead to 13. Rutgers brought it back down to 10 on their following possession. Just seconds later, Henn buried another three, which was answered by Rutgers with an ally-oop to keep the score within 11 points.

With 12:00 remaining, Cam Spencer made it a nine-point game, though the Lions still led 48-39. Another Rutgers basket made it a seven-point game, though Penn State’s Seth Lundy pushed the Nittany Lion lead back to ten with a trio of free throws — Penn State basketball led 51-41 with ten minutes remaining.

With 7:30 remaining, Rutgers cut the Penn State lead to eight — a minute later, the Penn State lead was again reduced. With 6:00 remaining, the Nittany Lions lead was six. A shot clock violation gave Rutgers the ball back with 5:30 left to play, though Penn State basketball managed a stop and sunk a free throw to make it a 54-47 game with 4:42 remaining.

As the game wound down, Rutgers had clawed their way back within five points. With 2:28 remaining, Rutgers tied the game at 54-54. With 1:31 remaining, Seth Lundy made an amazing stop and was fouled on the offensive end — Lundy sunk both, giving Penn State basketball a 56-54 advantage. Rutgers retook the lead just seconds later with 1:24 left on the clock. The Scarlet Knights would add a layup with 32 seconds remaining to extend the lead to three.

The Nittany Lions had two possessions down the stretch. With a Pickett turnover on the first possession and three missed three-pointers on the second, Penn State’s collapse was sealed. Final score from the BJC, Rutgers 59, Penn State 56.

Second half stats

  • Penn State basketball led by as many as 19 points and held the lead for 32:35 seconds of game time. Meanwhile, Rutgers only led for four minutes the entire game, and its largest lead was the margin of victory.
  • The Lions didn’t score from the field over the final nine minutes of the game, and made only one of their last 18 field goals.
  • The Nittany Lions shot an abysmal 28% from behind the arc, including a combined 1-18 from Lundy and Andrew Funk. Overall, Funk and Lundy went 2-23 from the field.
  • Cam Wynter was Penn State’s leading scorer, with 16 points on 6-9 shooting. Jalen Pickett had 11 points on 5-9 shooting.


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ICYMI: Penn State basketball legend Lamar Stevens finds new NBA home

Former Penn State basketball star finds a new home in the NBA.

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Penn State basketball, Lamar Stevens, Boston Celtics
Mar 3, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Lamar Stevens (11) reacts after shooting a three point shot during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Bryce Jordan Center. Michigan State defeated Penn State 79-71. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Argubly the GOAT of Penn State basketball has found a new home after his surprise trade and release this offseason. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, forward Lamar Stevens has agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics. 

The Penn State legend had spent his first 3 years in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers after signing with them as a free agent after going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft. He started as a 2-way player with the organization and eventually earned a full contract as his role grew in Cleveland. He played in a total of 165 games for the Cavs, including 38 starts, where he averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Lamar was able to masterfully transition from an offensive focal point and go-to scorer at Penn State to an off-ball defensive-minded role player in the NBA. 

Lamar joins a Celtics team that has been very familiar with Penn State in recent years. Former men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry was an assistant coach for the Celtics for 6 years and has maintained a good relationship with a lot of his fellow colleagues and players. This includes former Celtics head coach and current general manager Brad Stevens, who made his way to Penn State to visit coach shrews and watch the Nittany Lions a number of times over Shrewsberry’s 2 years in Happy Valley. 

Lamar Stevens will look to contribute to a Boston Celtics team that has lofty expectations. After a season that saw them lose in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and a busy offseason of moves, the Celtics will be one of the favorites to win out in the East and ultimately win the NBA finals. Stevens picking up a lot of starts seems unlikely, barring injury, but he has the potential to carve out a great bench role in Boston thanks to his incredible defense and instant energy. 



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BREAKING: Penn State basketball lands Dominick Stewart

The Penn State basketball team has landed a new commit in the 2024 class today.

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Mike Rhoades, Penn State basketball, Dominic Stewart
Dec 5, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Mike Rhoades walks the baseline watching the team play during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Rhoades and the rest of the Penn State men’s basketball recruiting staff got some good news today from the recruiting trail as the 2023-2024 season inches closer. The 2023 schedule was released this week and tip-off is nearing closer. But before that takes place, Rhoades and his staff have been hard at work trying to secure the future. A step in that direction was taken today, as the Nittany Lions landed top prospect Dominick Stewart. 

Penn State basketball lands Dominick Stewart

Class of 2024 guard Dominick Stewart announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Friday afternoon. Dominick is a 6’5 guard from Maryland and is currently playing at the Southern California Academy in California. He is the 184th-ranked player nationally and a three-star by the ON3 industry rankings. He carries an impressive offer list that includes Butler, Creighton, Mississippi State, and Cal. Penn State offered back in July after Dominick’s very strong showing on the AAU circuit which included All-Breakout team selections at Peach Jam in the Nike EYBL session #3. This commitment comes from a recent visit he took to Happy Valley at the beginning of the month. 

Stewart looks like a good get, especially after that impressive AAU run that got many schools noticing him. He is a smart and skilled player who can fit into many lineups and spots on the court. He is a good shooter with a great jumper. His jump shot is smooth and quick which allows him to avoid contests and score in bunches when he gets hot.

He processes the game at an impressive speed and is constantly making the right play. Not your typical lead ball playmaker, but is a fantastic connector, keeping the ball moving and hitting the open man. Those smarts apply to the other side of the ball too. Stewart uses his good size at hoard effectively to guard up and down the lineup. He is a good and willing team defender which fits the Rhoades style well. 

Where does Stewart fit in at Penn State?

Stewart, originally a member of the 2025 class, becomes the second member of Penn State’s 2024 class after reclassifying. He joins fellow guard Jahvin Carter as the first high school recruit to commit to Penn State since Mike Rhoades took over. Jahvin, who committed back in June, and Stewart make an interesting pair in the backcourt and share a lot of skills that the staff clearly values. The biggest one is their basketball IQ. They should both be important pieces in building a smart and skilled program for the future of Penn State Basketball. 



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Penn State Basketball has released its 2023-2024 official schedule

The Penn State basketball 2023-2024 schedule is here!

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Penn State basketball, Mike Rhoades, Schedule
Mar 18, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Myles Dread (2) and forward Michael Henn (24) salute fans after a loss to the Texas Longhorns at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

After a long wait, we now know what awaits the Penn State Men’s Basketball team this winter. Year 1 of the Mike Rhoades era is around the corner with the release of the 2023-2024 basketball schedule. The schedule totals 30 games including an in-season tournament, a potential revenge game, and another Palestra special

Penn State Basketball has released its 2023-2024 official schedule

Before all that, however, the season opens up on November 6th against Delaware State. This game, at the Bryce Jordan Center, starts a run of home games to begin the year against Lehigh (November 10th), St. Francis (November 14th), and Morehead State (November 17th). This all leads to the ESPN Events Invitational.

Penn State gets its first big test down in Orlando in a rematch against Texas A&M. The game takes place on Thanksgiving, November 23rd, and will be a great chance to test out the radically different roster against a more familiar opponent. Penn State will play a total of 3 games in the tournament win or lose with the potential for a very intriguing matchup

If the Nittany Lions are able to go all the way to the championship they could match up against Mike Rhoades’ former school, VCU. This would obviously be huge for the coach against his old school, but it also features a “revenge” opportunity for a couple of players as well. Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. and forward Nick Kern Jr. both followed coach Rhoades from VCU to Penn State this past spring. While this game would be amazing, it is unlikely. Penn State and VCU would both have to mirror each other in each round whether that means winning out, losing out, or somewhere in between. A matchup we are guaranteed is another Big Ten Showdown in Philly.

On January 7th the Nittany Lions will take on Michigan in the Palestra. This will be the second year in a row Penn State will host a game in the historic arena and the 4th time since their 2017 matchup against Michigan State. Penn State has a long history in the arena playing 61 games there since 1927, and win or lose, the environment is always electric. 

The schedule in full goes as follows:

November 6th: vs. Delaware State

November 10th: vs Lehigh

November 14th: vs St. Francis(PA) 

November 17th: vs. Morehead State

November 23rd: vs Texas A&M*

November 24th: vs Butler/FAU*

November 26th: vs TBD*

December 2nd: vs Bucknell

December 6th: at Maryland

December 9th: vs. Ohio State

December 21st: vs Le Moyne

December 29th: vs Rider

January 4th: at Michigan State

January 7th: vs Michigan 

January 10th: vs Northwestern

January 13th: at Purdue 

January 16th: vs Wisconsin

January 20th: at Ohio State

January 27th: vs Minnesota

January 31st: at Rutgers

February 3rd: at Indiana

February 8th: vs Iowa

February 11th: at Northwestern

February 14th: vs. Michigan State

February 17th: at Nebraska 

February 21st: vs Illinois 

February 24th: vs Indiana 

February 27th: at Iowa 

March 2nd: at Minnesota 

March 10th: vs Maryland 

March 13th-17th: Big Ten Tournament

*= ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Florida

**= home game in Philly at Palestra

Penn State has already played a couple of warm-up games with two big wins in the Bahamas that gave us our first look at this new squad. The team has also announced a third against Robert Morris on October 27th as they gear up to take on this 23-24 schedule. As Mike Rhoades looks to begin a new era in Penn State basketball. 



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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