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Penn State Basketball Stuns No.21 Maryland at Buzzer

The Nittany Lions overcame a 16-point deficit to keep their March Madness hopes alive.

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Penn State Basketball
Mar 5, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry gestures from the bench during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

In a must-win game, Penn State basketball (19-12, 10-10 Big Ten) rose to the occasion on Senior Day, rattling off a double-digit comeback to beat No. 21 Maryland (20-11, 11-9 Big Ten) 65-64 at the buzzer. The Quad 1 win – the Nittany Lions’ second of the week – comes following a dramatic overtime victory against Northwestern Wednesday.

Penn State now has five Quad 1 victories this season and has won five of its last six games. Finishing at .500 or better in the conference for only the eighth time in 31 years, the Lions have secured a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament.

Most importantly, Penn State’s NCAA Tournament hopes live to fight another day.

First Half: Strong Start, Sloppy Finish

The Nittany Lions started strong on the defensive end, forcing the Terrapins to miss five of their first six shots from the floor. Meanwhile, Jalen Pickett made two quick buckets to give Penn State a 7-2 lead. The Lions started 2-4 from three-point range to make it 10-6 heading into the first TV timeout.

Maryland scored five quick points out of the break to take an 11-10 lead, their first of the contest. Penn State turned the ball over three times and went scoreless over three minutes as Maryland extended the lead to four.

But the Lions came storming back in a hurry. A Pickett jumper and a rim-rattling three from Michael Henn gave Penn State the 15-14 lead.

Head coach Micah Shrewsberry was extremely vocal through several no-calls and lackluster defensive sets in the opening frame. Approaching 10 minutes to play in the first half, the Lions’ bench was called for a technical foul. Maryland led 19-10 following the two made free throws.

Penn State was sloppy with the ball on offense, a break from its trend all season. The Lions had seven early turnovers along with an eight-minute scoring drought as Maryland extended their lead. The Terrapins led 28-15 with under five in the half.

A scoreless drought from Maryland allowed the Lions to sneak back into the game in the half’s closing minutes. But despite the window of opportunity, Penn State could not overcome its shooting woes. The Nittany Lions missed 12 of their final 15 shots and went 9-25 from the field in the half.

A Jalen Pickett buzzer-beater gave the Lions a momentum boost heading into the locker room, but Maryland still led 35-22 at the break.

Wynter Stuns at the Buzzer (Again)

The second half opened with both teams trading buckets for the five minutes of play. This helped to keep the crowd engaged but didn’t do much to cut into Maryland’s lead. The Terrapins still led by 11 going into the first media timeout of the half.

Going into the midway point of the half, Penn State finally took advantage of a Maryland scoring drought. A 7-0 run, capped by an Andrew Funk three-pointer, made it a 10-point game.

Time and again, Penn State would go scoreless for long stretches in this game – only to have a few key shots keep them within striking distance. Three consecutive three-pointers from Funk and Myles Dread made it a 59-54 game with 4:12 to play.

With two minutes to play, Seth Lundy made a reverse layup to make it a 62-59 Maryland lead. The next time down the floor, Funk nailed a two from the corner to make it a one-point game with 1:24 to play.

Another Maryland miss gave the Lions the ball with the chance to take the lead. Pickett displayed great court vision to find Camren Wynter cutting to the basket for a wide-open layup. With 43 seconds to play, Penn State reclaimed the lead, 63-62.

A layup from Maryland’s Julian Reese put the Terrapins back up by one with 19 seconds remaining. Pickett fought off a double team to get the ball to Lundy with five seconds remaining. Lundy’s three went off the rim but fell right into the hands of Cam Wynter, who laid it in with 0.5 seconds remaining.

“It was the right place at the right time,” Wynter said after the game. “…I was under the basket; there was nothing else to do but go up with it.”

In all honesty, Penn State didn’t deserve to win this game. The Lions trailed by as many as 16 points in the game, and 15 points several times in the second half. They shot 48% from the field, including 37% from three-point range. Several Lions had respectable – but not stellar – performances, with Pickett (16), Funk (14), and Dread (11) each scoring in the double-digits. Meanwhile, Penn State struggled to contain Maryland’s Jahmir Young on the other end, who had 26 points on the day.

But in the end, all that matters is the final score. And that’s where Penn State basketball found itself when the clock hit zero on Sunday. Despite it all, the Lions pulled out a “gritty, not pretty” performance for the ages, winning 65-64.

Next Stop for Penn State Basketball: Chicago

After looking like the moment became too big for them against Rutgers last week, the Nittany Lions have finished the season on as strong of a note as possible.

With the win, Penn State finished Big Ten play at 10-10. This makes 2023 just the fourth time in program history that Penn State basketball reached the 10-win mark in conference play. It’s also only the eighth time in the Lions’ three decades of Big Ten membership that they finished the season with a conference record of .500 or better.

Penn State also secured a top-10 seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament with Sunday’s win. As a result, Micah’s Shrewsberry’s squad will get a first-round bye and will play next Thursday in second-round action.

With zero margin for error, Sunday’s win keeps Penn State’s NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Lions have made their case to get into the field of 68 down the stretch. Penn State has rattled off several impressive performances en route to finishing the season with five wins in six games.  With room to add to their five Quad 1 wins in Chicago, the Lions will certainly give the bracketologists something to think about.

“I’d love if they’d put me on the committee,” Shrewsberry said. “We’re playing our best ball right now. This is what we’ve been aiming for all season…it’s going to be a circus in Chicago. Anybody can beat anybody on any night.”

But all of that will be sorted out in due time. This time of year, it’s all about taking things one game – one moment – at a time. It’s March. Time to survive and advance.



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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. 



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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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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