Andrew Funk had the capturing recreation of his profession on Penn State’s largest stage in over 20 years.
Funk made eight of 10 three-pointers and scored 27 factors Thursday night in a seventy six-fifty nine win over Texas A&M for the Nittany Lions’ first NCAA match victory in 22 years.
Funk, in his first 12 months at Penn State after transferring from Bucknell, led the Nittany Lions to their ninth win of their final eleven video games. They subsequent play Texas inside the second spherical of the Midwest area on Saturday.
Penn State’s earlier match win was its second spherical upset of North Carolina in New Orleans in 2001. The Nittany Lions misplaced to Temple inside the candy sixteen, and in addition they misplaced to the Owls as quickly as extra after they returned to the match in 2011.
click on right here FOR extra sports activities safety ON FOXNEWS.COM
Jalen Pickett #22 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts all by means of the major half in opposition to the Texas A&M Aggies inside the major spherical of the NCAA males’s Basketball match at Wells Fargo enviornment on March sixteen, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty pictures)
Texas A&M (25-10) had gained 10 of 12 as a consequence of it entered its first NCAA match since 2018. The Aggies misplaced inside the major spherical for beneath the second time in 9 appearances since 2006.
Dexter Dennis scored 19 factors to steer A&M, which shot 34%.
Funk was zero for 5 on 3s inside the massive Ten championship recreation final weekend. however he made his first three-pointer in opposition to the Aggies, missed his second, after which hit six in a row. The streak ended when he put up an air ball on a desperation three as a consequence of the shot clock was working out.
Jalen Pickett, the most important star for Penn State (23-thirteen), performed one other strong all-round recreation with 19 factors, eight assists, no turnovers and seven rebounds.
Penn State led 38-22 after outscoring the Aggies 28-10 to close the major half. The Aggies hadn’t scored so few factors in a major half since a win over Notre Dame on Nov. 24, 2021.
The Lions’ offense ran simply the biggest strategy coach Micah Shrewsberry likes it, with the specter of 6-foot-10 Kebba Jjie inside the submit creating residence on the perimeter for Funk, Myles Dread and Seth Lundy to do what they do biggest. Dread and Lundy had two 3s apiece and Penn State accomplished thirteen of twenty-two from distance.
Jalen Pickett #22 and Myles Dread #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rejoice after a play all by means of the second half in opposition to the Texas A&M Aggies inside the major spherical of the NCAA males’s Basketball match at Wells Fargo enviornment on March sixteen, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty pictures)
FURMAN data FIRST UPSET OF 2023 MARCH madness, TAKING DOWN VIRGINIA WITH WILD LATE SEQUENCE
The Aggies have had making an try occasions not too prolonged in the past virtually with reference to the NCAA match. Coach Buzz Williams was infamously miffed when the Aggies weren’t chosen final 12 months. This season they acquired here in as a No. 7 seed, decrease than Aggie reliable felt reliable.
huge picture:
Penn State: The Lions’ dominance of their first NCAA match recreation since 2011 will solely intensify the spotlight on second-12 months coach Shrewsberry, whose title has been related to openings at Notre Dame and Georgetown.
Texas A&M: The Aggies’ first look inside the match in 5 years ended the identical strategy as a consequence of the final one — with a thud. They misplaced by 27 factors to Michigan inside the 2018 candy sixteen.
Andrew Funk #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a play all by means of the major half in opposition to the Texas A&M Aggies inside the major spherical of the NCAA males’s Basketball match at Wells Fargo enviornment on March sixteen, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty pictures)
click on right here TO GET THE FOX information APP
UP subsequent
Penn State will play Texas for the major time in males’s basketball.
0 Comments