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Lions’ talent takes center stage in win

UNIVERSITY PARK — Even though an NIT championship banner was unraveled in the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday night, Penn State looked like it had a long way to go in figuring out its identity in its game against North Florida.

However, the Lions’ talent level made that lack of clear pace and strategy irrelevant in the season opener.

The Nittany Lions dominated the Ospreys, 87-72, but looked far from playing up to their potential.

“It was definitely tough in the early years to find that speed and athleticism and that skill,” PSU coach Patrick Chambers said. “We got the right kids for how we want to play.”

Lamar Stevens scored a game-high 22 points for the Lions, followed by Josh Reaves, who recorded 19.

Both teams converted 27 shots from the field. But the Nittany Lions’ success from the perimeter and on the free throw line was the difference.

“I feel like my team depends on me to score and make plays,” Stevens said. “Our young guys believe in me.”

The Ospreys’ coach identified Stevens as the key to the Lions’ success.

“I think your guys do a great job of understanding that (Stevens) is a stud,” coach Matthew Driscoll said. “And I think your guys have embraced that.”

Penn State’s offense lacked flow in the opening half. The clunky start may be a symptom of the Lions losing their top scorer in Tony Carr to the NBA draft. Or it may be indicative of a team unsure of how to implement their new weapons.

Whatever the exact reason for their unconfident start, the decent-sized crowd had only a few fleeting moments to be excited for their returning NIT champions.

North Florida had a zone defense that caused trouble for Stevens at times.

“They were doubling him,” Chambers said. “He’s got to get used to being doubled.”

Near the mid-point of the first half, the teams were tied 16-16. The Lions then scored seven quick points, not through a legitimate offensive setup, but through what Chambers calls “effort plays.”

Steals, rebounds, shifty transition work. This might just be the way the Lions get points this year.

Whenever the pace slowed down and Penn State was forced to run an offense, things got clunky again.

“I would say a little bit choppy,” Chambers said of the offense. “Certain spurts were really good… These guys are really unselfish, but when we get a little bit stagnant, a little bit stale, we are easy to guard.”

Sophomore Jamari Wheeler and senior Josh Reaves are still the high-energy pillars of the defense. Reaves was a key contributor on the offensive end whereas Wheeler had scored only 3 points.

“He’s one of the best role players I’ve ever seen,” Driscoll said.

The freshman unit of Myreon Jones, Rasir Bolton, and Myles Dread got ample play time. Dread finished with 17 points while Bolton added 13 points off the bench.

“They’re very confident kids,” Chambers said.

Game notes: The Lions were without big man Mike Watkins, who faced legal problems heading into the season. Sophomores John Harrar and Trent Buttrick combined to play his spotin the rotation. … Helping the Lions was the Ospreys’ 5-of-27 shooting from beyond the arc. … The Lions took a 40-28 lead into the halftime break, and kept a similar buffer until the final buzzer. … Penn State hosts Jacksonville State on Monday.

NORTH FLORIDA (0-2): Aminu 3-4 2-2 8, Horchler 5-9 0-3 10, Gandia-Rosa 3-10 1-1 7, Escobar 2-5 0-0 5, Sams 6-17 3-4 16, Balogun 4-5 0-2 10, Hendricksen 0-3 3-4 3, Day 2-7 3-4 8, Copeland 1-1 0-0 2, Coffey 1-2 1-2 3, Burkhardt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-64 13-22 72.

PENN STATE (1-0): Harrar 3-5 1-4 7, Stevens 7-14 8-8 22, Reaves 5-8 8-10 19, Wheeler 1-2 1-2 3, Dread 6-10 1-2 17, Zemgulis 0-1 0-0 0, Buttrick 1-4 1-2 4, Bolton 3-5 5-6 13, Jones 1-8 0-1 2. Totals 27-57 25-35 87.

Halftime–Penn St. 40-28. 3-Point Goals–North Florida 5-27 (Balogun 2-2, Escobar 1-3, Day 1-4, Sams 1-8, Burkhardt 0-1, Horchler 0-2, Hendricksen 0-3, Gandia-Rosa 0-4), Penn St. 8-21 (Dread 4-8, Bolton 2-3, Reaves 1-1, Buttrick 1-3, Zemgulis 0-1, Wheeler 0-1, Stevens 0-2, Jones 0-2). Fouled Out–Aminu, Gandia-Rosa. Rebounds–North Florida 33 (Horchler 10), Penn St. 33 (Stevens 10). Assists–North Florida 13 (Gandia-Rosa 7), Penn St. 17 (Bolton 6). Total Fouls–North Florida 29, Penn St. 19.

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