Game Grades: Bucknell

Story posted November 20, 2019 in CommRadio, Sports by Kevin McConlogue

Penn State (4-0) came out hot on the offensive end of the floor and never looked back in a 98-70 win over the Bucknell Bison (2-3) on Tuesday at the Bryce Jordan Center. Here are some grades from the game:

Offense: A

The Nittany Lions as a team shot an outstanding 60 percent for the game, and seemed to be getting whatever shot they wanted all night.

Lamar Stevens was the best player on the floor and is trying to prove he’s one of the best in the Big Ten. Stevens scored a season high 27 points, looking flat out dominant in the second half of the game. Mike Watkins also continued his stellar early season play contributing 18 points inside. Myles Dread hit four threes on a night when the Nittany Lions only attempted 16 3-pointers as a team. This was mainly because they were getting whatever they wanted inside scoring 58 points in the paint.

Defense: B

Bucknell had a little bit of an offensive rhythm in a first half track meet between the two teams, but the Nittany Lions doubled down on defense in the second half only giving up 28 points.

Mike Watkins was his usual blocking self, swatting away four shots. Jamari Wheeler was his usual self-getting in ball handlers faces and making Bucknell’s guards uncomfortable. Izaiah Brockington continues to play the Josh Reaves roll from last season that Penn State thought they would miss.

Coaching: A

This was a close game at halftime with the Nittany Lions only leading by three in a high scoring first half. Pat Chambers must of told his team at halftime to turn it up in the second half, and that they did.

Penn State opened the second half on an 8-0 run and outscored Bucknell 53-28 in the second half. It seemed like everything the Nittany Lions wanted to do they were able to do. You have to give some props to the coaching staff for the early season success so far.

 

 

Kevin McConlogue is a senior majoring in broadcast-journalism with a minor in political science. To contact him email kpm5520@psu.edu.