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Nittany Lions struggle from the field in loss

The Associated Press

UNIVERSITY PARK — Sam Waardenburg scored 14 points and Kameron McGusty, Charlie Moore and Isaiah Wong each scored 12 and Miami beat Penn State 63-58 in a Big Ten/ACC Challenge game Wednesday night.

Jaheam Cornwall made two foul shots to reduce Penn State’s deficit to 60-58 with 1:31 remaining. However, that was as close as the Nittany Lions would get.

McGusty missed a 3-pointer on Miami’s next possession, but Jordan Miller secured the offensive rebound and McGusty followed the miss with a made 3 to seal it with 38 seconds left.

Penn State used a 15-2 run and turned a 38-30 deficit into a 45-40 lead when Jalanni White made a layup with 12:16 remaining.

McGusty countered going on his own 7-0 outburst with a jump shot, 3-pointer and a layup in a little more than two-minute span. Cornwall responded with a 3 for the Nittany Lions with 8:30 left, but Moore made back-to-back layups and Miami (5-3) led for the remainder.

John Harrar made all six of his shot attempts for Penn State (4-3), was 4 for 5 from the foul line and scored 16 points with 12 rebounds. Seth Lundy scored 14 with eight rebounds.

However, Sam Sessoms, who had been averaging in double figures for the Lions was held to just eight points.

The Nittany Lions also struggled offensively from the 3-point line, which is where the team has lived in the early going of the season, making just six of 24 shots from behind the arc. The Hurricanes didn’t do much better, keeping Penn State in the game by going 9-for-25 from the 3-point line.

Penn State is off until it welcomes Ohio State to the Jordan Center for a Sunday-night matchup, which begins the Big Ten schedule for the Nittany Lions. Ohio State is coming off a come-from-behind win at home on Tuesday against No. 1-ranked Duke, which led a majority of that game.

Miami opens up ACC play on Saturday at home with Clemson.

MIAMI (4-3): Waardenburg 5-11 0-0 14, McGusty 5-10 0-1 12, J.Miller 2-2 0-0 5, Moore 5-10 0-0 12, Wong 4-12 4-4 12, Poplar 2-6 0-0 4, Joseph 0-1 0-0 0, Walker 2-4 0-0 4, R.Miller 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-58 4-5 63.

PENN STATE (4-3): Harrar 6-6 4-5 16, Lundy 6-14 0-0 14, Dread 3-9 0-0 9, Pickett 2-8 0-1 4, Sessoms 4-12 0-0 8, Cornwall 1-2 2-3 5, White 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 6-9 58.

Halftime–Miami 29-23. 3-Point Goals–Miami 9-25 (Waardenburg 4-8, McGusty 2-4, Moore 2-4, J.Miller 1-1, Walker 0-1, Poplar 0-3, Wong 0-4), Penn St. 6-24 (Dread 3-8, Lundy 2-9, Cornwall 1-2, Sessoms 0-2, Pickett 0-3). Rebounds–Miami 27 (J.Miller, Wong 5), Penn St. 36 (Harrar 11). Assists–Miami 13 (Moore 4), Penn St. 11 (Pickett 4). Total Fouls–Miami 15, Penn St. 12.

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