Jalen Pickett and Sam Sessoms scored 16 points apiece Wednesday to highlight Penn State’s 74-54 win over Wagner in University Park, Pa.
Sessoms, who had started each of the first eight games for the Nittany Lions (5-4), came off the bench in this one. He made 6 of 8 shots from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, a far cry from his shooting struggles over the previous three games (7 of 24).
Myles Dread started in his place and contributed nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from long distance. John Harrar added 12 points and Seth Lundy chipped in 10 for Penn State, which now must get ready for a road game against No. 19 Michigan State on Saturday.
Alex Morales scored 11 points for Wagner (3-2), which did not shoot particularly well from the field (42.9 percent) or the 3-point arc (2 of 14). Will Martinez added eight points and five assists for the Seahawks, who were outrebounded 33-27 and attempted only six foul shots.
Penn State led by five with 15 minutes remaining before Sessoms hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 9-0 burst. Lundy’s 3-pointer capped the rally, giving the Nittany Lions a 49-35 advantage with 13:15 to play.
Pickett drained a 3-pointer shortly thereafter and then Dread’s trey extended the lead to 20 for the first time. Wagner did not score from the 12:21 mark of the second half until 6:52 remained in the game, ending any hopes of a comeback.
Neither team led by more than seven during a tight first half that ended with the Nittany Lions ahead 32-27. Pickett and Harrar paced Penn State with seven first-half points each while Dread and Sessoms each made a pair of 3-pointers in the opening period.
Nine different players made a basket for Wagner in the first half, led by Martinez (six points).
The Seahawks are idle until a home game against Immaculata on Dec. 16.
–Field Level Media
