Penn State Shocks Hokies, Nation in 75-55 Win
BLACKSBURG, Va. — The Penn State Nittany Lions found a way to bounce back following an overtime loss against Seton Hall, as they destroyed previously undefeated No. 15 Virginia Tech 75-55.
Like the Seton Hall game, the Nittany Lions jumped out to a great start in the first half. They held a 19-point lead at the half, but unlike the Seton hall game, they kept pushing, as the lead even reached 29 at one point.
The fast-paced Penn State offense played its most efficient basketball of the season, as the Nittany Lions turned over the ball just four times.
This performance came with the team’s best scorer this season, Seth Lundy, being held scoreless. Lundy only attempted four shots all game while also recording a rebound and an assist.
Instead, it was Izaiah Brockington who stepped up. Brockington posted a career-high 24 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. Brockington’s previous career high was 23 points in last year’s win over Iowa at the Palestra. Head coach Jim Ferry suggested that this performance was bound to happen.
“We see this all the time in practice,” Ferry said. “He scored at all three levels today. He made layups, 3’s and pull-ups. He played great.”
For Ferry, this is only the second win against a ranked team in his coaching career, as his Duquesne Dukes upset No. 10 Saint Louis back in 2014.
Ferry was one of many in the Penn State program upset after the Seton Hall loss and knew that recovering from that would be important. With only two days rest before Virginia Tech, Ferry mentioned that he hadn’t even looked at the Hokies yesterday.
“We spent all day yesterday focusing on ourselves,” Ferry said. “We didn't talk one day about Virginia Tech.”
Four Nittany Lions scored double digits in the game, and two of them came off the bench. Sam Sessoms and Myles Dread provided an instant spark off the bench and played extra minutes in the game to help make up for Lundy’s lack of offense.
Statistically, Penn State dominated almost everywhere on the defensive side of the ball. The Nittany Lions recorded six blocks and six steals, which contributed to the team’s 14 forced turnovers. Despite the defensive effort, the Nittany Lions barely saw the free-throw line, as they shot 10 fewer than the Hokies at the charity stripe.
The Nittany Lions continued their winning ways while wearing the pink and black uniforms, as the win makes them 12-0 all-time in those jerseys in regular season play. Ferry mentioned that the players love when they get to put on the pink and black.
“They love wearing the pink and black,” Ferry said. “We’ve had great success in them, so it’s always nice.”
The win also marks the 1500th in the program’s history. From here, the Nittany Lions will start Big Ten play, as they face another undefeated team in Michigan. The Michigan game kicks off a tough slate of conference play, in which the Nittany Lions will face three ranked teams in the next five games.
Logan Bourandas is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.
