3 takeaways from Penn State basketball’s 72-63 win over Michigan
Penn State won its first road Big Ten game of the season Wednesday night by taking down Michigan, 72-63. The win brings Penn State to 14-5 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten.
Let’s look at three takeaways from the game.
1. Lamar Stevens is expanding his game
Penn State senior forward Lamar Stevens doesn’t have many flaws in his offensive game, but there is one that stands out — his lack of 3-point shooting. But on Wednesday night, he showed he’s willing to launch from deep.
Stevens took four attempts from beyond the arc in the game, 1.2 above his season average of 2.8. It’s important for Stevens’ professional future that he continues to extend his range and shoot more from deep, but it’s also important that he does it to help the Nittany Lions this season. With Stevens as a legitimate option beyond the arc, Penn State will have another player to space the floor and create open lanes for the team’s other scorers to work. Of course, it helps that he led the game in scoring with 19 points.
2. Myreon Jones can take a game over
Stevens is the team’s best offensive talent, but sophomore guard Myreon Jones can light up the scoreboard as well as anyone on the team. Jones put up 15 points Wednesday night and did plenty of damage from beyond the arc. He made 3-of-4 3-point attempts in the game and gave the Nittany Lions a boost when they needed it.
His shooting has been essential to Penn State’s success so far and Wednesday was no different. He was shooting 41.1% from deep in the team’s 13 wins entering the game and 36.7% from that range in its losses. He’s a good shooter regardless of outcome, but his best shooting nights have generally helped the Nittany Lions earn a victory.
3. Curtis Jones Jr. saved the game for Penn State
Jones did his fair share and Stevens contributed consistently throughout, but it was senior guard Curtis Jones Jr. who saved the game for Penn State.
Jones Jr. was on fire for the Nittany Lions in the game and came up big when it mattered most. His biggest bucket of the game came when his team couldn’t get its offense going. Penn State was struggling to generate offense late in the game and allowed Michigan to go on a 12-2 run from when there was 7:06 left in the game until there was 3:50 left. Jones Jr. stepped up there, getting the next two buckets for Penn State at the rim, including an and-one opportunity.
Without the senior, who scored 18 points in the game on 7-of-9 shooting including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, the Nittany Lions would’ve been in big trouble. Instead, they’re traveling back to University Park with their first Big Ten road win of the year.
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 9:23 PM.
