Penn State men’s basketball continued where it left on in last year’s non-conference schedule and improved to 2-0 with a 68-62 win over DePaul on Tuesday night. The win was Head Coach Pat Chambers’ 100th, and the second of electric freshman Josh Reaves’.

How It Happened

The game’s first play of the game was almost identical to that of the season opener, with Reaves stealing the ball and finishing the play with a dunk. Reaves went on to be one of four Penn State players who scored in double digits, and added three rebounds and two steals. He kicked off an 11-2 run and was one of the main reasons that Penn State never trailed in the game. DePaul mounted some runs and pulled within a few points at 28-25 with almost no time left in the first half. Brandon Taylor extended the lead with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from way behind the line.

Both teams opened up their offenses in the second half, led by Taylor’s suddenly hot hand. His last play in the first half was the only scoring he had, but he rode that momentum into becoming the game’s eventual leading scorer. He scored 19 of his team’s 37 second-half points as DePaul couldn’t find any answers. Still, it more than doubled its first-half scoring to keep it very close very late. Penn State had a chance to lose a close game late, as it became notorious for in last year’s Big Ten slate, but Shep Garner scored seven points in the game’s last two minutes while Taylor kept on rolling. This time, it was Penn State’s opponent’s turn to come so close to an upset win, only to fall short by single digits.

Player Of The Game

Without a doubt, Brandon Taylor. 22 points, 4-7 from three-point range, two assists, two rebounds, and a steal meant he played a complete game, despite some early fouls and a game-leading six turnovers. He’s known for going hot and cold, and we were treated to the former this time.

What’s Next?

Penn State is back in action at Duquesne this Friday at 7:00 p.m. The last time the teams met, the Nittany Lions eked out a two-point win at home last December.