Hoops du Jour
Men: Miami, Fla. at Penn State
Tipoff: 9 p.m.; Bryce Jordan Center, University Park
Records: Miami, Fla. (4-3); Penn State (4-2)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: TOONA 1430-AM & 99.7-FM
Notable: This game is part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Nittany Lions are 6-1 in their last seven matchups in this event. … Penn State is coming off a win over Oregon State in the consolation game of the Emerald Classic. The Hurricanes are coming off a 32-point loss to Alabama. They have also lost to UCF and Dayton. Their wins are over Canisius, Florida Atlantic, Florida A&M and North Texas. … Kameron McGustky, Isaiah Wong and Charlie Moore are all averaging in double figures for Miami. …Senior transfer Jalen Pickett is Penn State’s top 3-point shooter after six games. Sam Sessoms is second on the team.
Mirror prediction: Penn State, 72-62
Mirror prediction record: 5-1
— Scott Franco
Men: Bucknell at Saint Francis
Tipoff: 7 p.m., DeGol Arena, Loretto
Records: Saint Francis (2-3); Bucknell (2-5)
TV: NEC Front Row
Radio: None
Internet: Live stats available at sidearmstats.com
Notable: One of Bucknell’s two wins this season came against Rider. The Bison won the meeting in Lewisburg, but lost the rematch a week later at the Cancun Challenge. … Bison coach Nathan Davis (not to be confused with the former Bellwood-Antis standout) is 109-77 in his 7th season at the school and 250-116 in 12 seasons as a head coach. … Tonight’s matchup marks the 30th meeting between the programs dating back to the 1926-27 season. This year also marks the 96th anniversary since the first meeting. The Bison lead the series, 18-11, but the Flash hold an 8-6 edge at home. Bucknell has won the previous three meetings, including a 72-50 decision during the 2013-14 season in Lewisburg.
Mirror prediction: Saint Francis 78, Bucknell 75
Mirror prediction record:- 5-0
— Dan Isenberg
Women: SFU at Bucknell
Tipoff: 6 p.m., Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg
Records: Saint Francis (0-5); Bucknell (4-2)
TV: ESPN+
Internet: www.bucknellbison.com
Notable: The all-time series is tied at 3-3. … Saint Francis is one of two teams in the Northeast Conference with a positive rebounding margin (+0.2). … SFU’s Sam Miller tied a career high with eight boards in the loss to Coppin State. … Bucknell defeated NEC member Fairleigh Dickinson, 66-56, to open the season.
Mirror prediction: Bucknell 82, Saint Francis 56
Mirror prediction record: 5-0
— Nate Ritchey
Pitt loses in final seconds to Gophers
PITTSBURGH — Luke Loewe put back the rebound off an E.J. Stephens miss with 2.4 seconds left to lift Minnesota to a 54-53 win over Pittsburgh in a Big Ten/ACC Challenge contest Tuesday night.
The Golden Gophers (6-0) remain undefeated despite going more than five minutes without a field goal at the end of their first game against a Power 5 opponent this season. Stephens hit a 3-pointer with 5:48 left to put Minnesota in front and the Golden Gophers went without a field goal until Payton Willis scored a layup with :30 left to pull within one. After Pitt’s Jamarius Burton missed a jumper Stephens drove to the basket only to have his shot roll off and Loewe, who was unchecked by the Pitt defense, soared to snare the rebound and put it back for the win.
Under first-year coach Ben Johnson, Minnesota’s roster is stocked with transfers from mid-major programs and has just two players, seniors Eric Curry and Willis, who have ever played for a high-major program.
Jamison Battle, a transfer from George Washington, led Minnesota with 16 points and seven rebounds. Willis added 15 points and the only points Loewe scored came on his game-winning put back. The Gophers were out-rebounded 40-33, but made up for that shortfall by making 7 of 19 shots from beyond the arc.
John Hugley finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds to lead Pittsburgh (2-5). Mouhamadou Gueye had 11 rebounds.
MINNESOTA (5-0): Battle 6-13 1-2 16, Curry 3-10 0-0 6, Loewe 1-5 0-0 2, Stephens 3-8 2-3 9, Willis 6-13 0-0 15, Sutherlin 2-8 0-0 4, Daniels 1-2 0-0 2, Ogele 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-59 3-5 54.
PITTSBURGH (2-4): Gueye 1-5 0-0 2, Hugley 9-16 6-11 25, Burton 2-11 2-2 6, Odukale 2-8 2-2 6, Jeffress 2-4 0-0 5, Ezeakudo 2-5 0-0 5, Santos 0-1 0-0 0, Collier 1-1 0-0 2, Oladapo 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 20-52 10-15 53.
Halftime–Pittsburgh 24-22. 3-Point Goals–Minnesota 7-19 (Battle 3-8, Willis 3-8, Stephens 1-2, Loewe 0-1), Pittsburgh 3-15 (Hugley 1-1, Jeffress 1-2, Ezeakudo 1-3, Santos 0-1, Gueye 0-2, Burton 0-3, Odukale 0-3). Rebounds–Minnesota 29 (Battle 7), Pittsburgh 38 (Hugley 14). Assists–Minnesota 11 (Loewe, Willis 3), Pittsburgh 13 (Odukale 5). Total Fouls–Minnesota 16, Pittsburgh 11.





