Penn State men’s basketball improved to 2-0 after gutting out a victory over VCU Wednesday night thanks to a Myles Dread buzzer-beater. Questions still remain for Penn State, although the way in which it won will help propel the Nittany Lions.

Following the game, several players felt the matchup with VCU prepared the Nittany Lions for upcoming challenges against Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, and a challenging Big Ten slate.

“[This game] is definitely going to prepare us,” junior guard Sam Sessoms said. “VCU is a great team, they beat Memphis who are also a great team. They are dogs, and we were looking for this kind of game.”

Sessoms was a spark off the bench, scoring 17 points in 26 minutes played. The Binghamton transfer was key in the win and showed immediate promise in his second game as a Nittany Lion.

However, the star of the night was sophomore Seth Lundy, who posted a career-high 32 points.

Lundy has drawn comparisons to Penn State legend Lamar Stevens in recent years. Both players have similar styles of play and hail from Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Due to the depth and experience of the current roster, Lundy may not need to continue carrying Penn State in the box score.

“I think we are a team that wins by committee,” head coach Jim Ferry said. “We are a team that is very balanced. It could be a different guy last night.”

The “win by committee” approach was on full display in the final moments of the contest. VCU presumably lined up to defend a Sessoms drive or a Lundy three. However, the game was won by Dread, who played just nine minutes and had no points until the game-winner.

“All guys on the court were confident, including the guys on the bench and the whole staff,” Lundy said. “[Dread] went 0-for-4 today, but I knew he’d hit that shot. He’s just that type of player.”

“That last possession showed who we are as a team. It showed how much these guys trust each other,” Ferry said. “They played for each other, which I thought showed in that possession.”

The first two games of the new season have shown that Penn State has multiple threats. Before Lundy’s big night, Jamari Wheeler was the star of the season opener when he scored a career-high 18 points in the win over VMI.

While Wheeler had a quiet night Wednesday, the junior grabbed an impressive eight rebounds and six assists.

“We have a lot of threats on the floor and the guys trust each other,” Ferry said. “Whoever’s night it’s going to be has the chance to do it.”

Ferry has made it clear that his team will be dynamic in the ways it will threaten opponents, and he deserves a part of the credit for the positive start to the season. The players have touted his free style of coaching as a key catalyst for a balanced box score, unlike the 2019-20 season that was dominated by Stevens.

“[Ferry] is an offensive-minded coach, he wants us to play,” Sessoms said. “We have so many set plays, but once the game starts it’s all about hooping. He lets us go free.”

Penn State will attempt to reach its third straight win on Sunday when it hosts Seton Hall. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.