Just 1.4 miles north of CFG Bank Arena is Ace Baldwin Jr.’s high school — St. Frances Academy — in Baltimore, Maryland.

From 2016 to 2020, Baldwin developed into a highly touted basketball recruit and was named a three-time first-team All-State selection, two-time All-Metro Player of the Year, and three-time first-team All-Baltimore County point guard.

In his return to Baltimore as a part of Penn State men’s basketball’s Hall of Fame Series matchup against Virginia Tech, Baldwin posted a team-high 19 points and 10 assists en route to the Nittany Lions’ 86-64 statement victory over the Hokies at CFG Bank Arena.

Despite his hometown return, Baldwin’s demeanor and composure didn’t change throughout warmups, introductions, or most of the first half, but the point guard earned a technical foul eight seconds ahead of halftime when the Nittany Lions picked up an offensive board and forced a Virginia Tech timeout.

“I was too excited. I got a technical foul,” Baldwin said. “I was overexcited, but it was a very fun, a great atmosphere, and it was very exciting.”

The Virginia Tech-heavy crowd was hushed by halftime when Penn State began to pull away and the blue and white faithful dominated applause and encouragement — much toward Baltimore’s own Baldwin.

“It just worked out that this is Ace’s hometown, so it made it even more special for all of us and for Ace and his family,” Rhoades added.

Baldwin’s team-best points and assists showed up quietly on the stat sheet, though, as Nick Kern Jr. and Zach Hicks tallied similarly impactful games with 16 and 19 points, respectively.

Rhoades noted the team’s high-level week of practice and how the intensity created in Happy Valley was showcased in Baltimore on the hardwood, led by Baldwin, especially after only leading by eight at halftime. It’s Baldwin, though, leading the way and setting the expectation for success with performances like Friday night’s.

“We keep talking about if we’re going to change Penn State basketball, we have to have a standard that we play at,” Rhoades said. “…We adjusted at halftime, and the guys came out, led by our seniors and Ace. That was huge.”

The next highest assist total for the Nittany Lions was two each from Freddie Dilione and Nick Kern, emphasizing Baldwin’s 10-assist impact in games with 22-point margins of victory.

With 646 career assists to add to his stat line as the only active Division I player with 1,000+ career points, 600+ career assists, and 250+ steals, Baldwin’s team-first mindset was put on full display in his hometown game.

“I love my teammates, man,” Baldwin said. “They’re like my brothers. I told them I got them like how they got me. As a point guard, I like getting my teammates first before I get going.”