National Basketball Association
Penn St. 74, Wagner 54
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, Pennsylvania
Officials:
# Bill Ek, # Chris Beaver, # Lewis Garrison
Attendance:
7499
By Field Level Media
Jalen Pickett and Sam Sessoms scored 16 points apiece Wednesday to highlight Penn State's 74-54 win over Wagner in University Park, Pa.
Sessoms, who had started each of the first eight games for the Nittany Lions (5-4), came off the bench in this one. He made 6 of 8 shots from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, a far cry from his shooting struggles over the previous three games (7 of 24).
Myles Dread started in his place and contributed nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from long distance. John Harrar added 12 points and Seth Lundy chipped in 10 for Penn State, which now must get ready for a road game against No. 19 Michigan State on Saturday.
Alex Morales scored 11 points for Wagner (3-2), which did not shoot particularly well from the field (42.9 percent) or the 3-point arc (2 of 14). Will Martinez added eight points and five assists for the Seahawks, who were outrebounded 33-27 and attempted only six foul shots.
Penn State led by five with 15 minutes remaining before Sessoms hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 9-0 burst. Lundy's 3-pointer capped the rally, giving the Nittany Lions a 49-35 advantage with 13:15 to play.
Pickett drained a 3-pointer shortly thereafter and then Dread's trey extended the lead to 20 for the first time. Wagner did not score from the 12:21 mark of the second half until 6:52 remained in the game, ending any hopes of a comeback.
Neither team led by more than seven during a tight first half that ended with the Nittany Lions ahead 32-27. Pickett and Harrar paced Penn State with seven first-half points each while Dread and Sessoms each made a pair of 3-pointers in the opening period.
Nine different players made a basket for Wagner in the first half, led by Martinez (six points).
The Seahawks are idle until a home game against Immaculata on Dec. 16.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Wagner |
|
Penn St. |
Alex Morales 11 |
Scoring |
Jalen Pickett 16 |
Will Martinez 5 |
Assists |
Sam Sessoms 5 |
Raekwon Rogers 5 |
Rebounds |
John Harrar 7 |
Will Martinez 2 |
Free Throws Made |
John Harrar 6 |
Elijah Ford 3 |
Steals |
Seth Lundy 3 |
Raekwon Rogers 1 |
Blocks |
Jalanni White 1 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Wagner
|
54 |
42.9 |
2-14 |
4-6 |
14 |
24 |
1 |
10 |
15 |
Penn St.
|
74 |
48.0 |
10-28 |
16-21 |
18 |
29 |
1 |
9 |
17 |