Penn State men’s basketball looked to secure their first Big Ten win of the season this Sunday afternoon against Minnesota.
Without the services of starting, 7-0 forward, Ivan Juric, the Nittany Lions started out with a smaller lineup, but the lack of size did not seem to effect the Nittany Lions.
With their team speed, the Blue & White were playing fast and aggressive.
At the first media timeout (15:18), the Nittany Lions were up 9-7 on the Golden Gophers. Josh Reed had five points and Freddie Dilione, V. had four for Penn State.
Reed and Dilione were everywhere offensively and defensively making jump shots and picking pockets.
At the second media timeout (10:57), the Nittany Lions were playing fast and crisp and were leading 19-14.
Minnesota was staying in the game, though, behind Bobby Durkin’s eight points and Cade Tyson’s seven.
Penn State was shooting 48% from the field to Minnesota’s 35% (5:15).
The score was Penn State 31, Minnesota 19 with (4:45) left in the first half.
Penn State was having their best offensive performance of the year and matching up really well to the Golden Gophers and with (2:49) left in the first half it was the Nittany Lions over the Golden Gophers 36-23.
Langston Reynolds for Minnesota started to heat up and knocked in back-to-back threes to cut the Gopher’s deficit to ten, 39-29 (1:10).
Score at Half: Penn State 41, Minnesota 31.
Josh Reed was leading all scorers with 16 points and Dilione had 13 for the Nittany Lions.
Durkin had 10 for Minnesota.
At the first media timeout (15:56) of the second half, it was Penn State keeping the pressure on Minnesota and were leading 48-37. PSU’s, Dominick Stewart, had five quick points to start the half.
Minnesota kept trying to pound the ball inside, but 7-0 freshman forward, Justin Houser, was doing a solid job keeping his ground and protecting the rim.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The Gophers kept inching closer to the Nittany Lions. The score with (12:00) to play was PSU 52, Minnesota 49. Isaac Asuma had seven points out of the gate for Minnesota to start the second half.
PSU freshman point guard, Kayden Mingo, started to take over. With beautiful drives to the hoop, a clutch three and a key steal, he had Penn State back up by five, 63-58, with (8:20) left to play.
With (6:03) left in the game, it was the Nittany Lions hanging onto to their lead, 69-60. Dilione and Stewart had 10 points apiece in the second half up to this point. Dilione was leading all scorers with 23 points for the game.
Josh Reed stretched the Nittany Lion lead to 10, (71-61), after a crafty fadeaway jumper (4:44).
Minnesota then put on their full-court press to try to turn Penn State over.
The Golden Gophers went on a run and cut the score to Penn State 71, Minnesota 70 (2:22).
Dilione stopped Minnesota’s run with a made drive to the basket, 73-70 (2:09), but then Minnesota answered with a basket on their next possession.
Mingo, once again, showed why he was Penn State’s top recruit in PSU history. Next possession down the court he converted another beautiful drive to the hoop and the score was Nittany Lions 75 Golden Gophers 72.
Minnesota scored again and then turned PSU over on their full-court press and the score was Penn State 75, Minnesota 74 with (31.3) to play.
Penn State’s, Mingo, held the ball with one shot left and as time expired he scored the game winner.
FINAL: PSU 77 Minnesota 75
