NCAAB Game Recap - Virginia Tech at Penn State
Tue Nov 27, 2018 7:00 PM EST

Ind
69
Duke
90
F
Nev
79
LoyIL
65
F
MSU
78
Lou
82
F(OT)
VaTec
62
PSU
63
F
Pitt
68
Iowa
69
F
NCSU
75
Wisc
79
F
(N/A)
59
StFPA
113
F
Hartfo
89
SacHr
98
F
MD-ES
64
StJon
85
F
(N/A)
65
South
74
F
ArkPB
49
Cin
105
F
HowPa
53
AbCh
90
F
ECU
86
UNCW
95
F
(N/A)
59
Elon
92
F
UMassL
75
UConn
97
F
Stony
79
Norf
73
F
Amer
74
VMI
64
F
(N/A)
62
Chat
95
F
Ill
74
ND
76
F
(N/A)
33
UNCG
111
F
BrwP
65
Mercer
90
F
ETSU
69
GaSo
64
F
UNCC
56
David
76
F
(N/A)
62
Ball
108
F
(N/A)
39
WriSt
58
F
WCU
64
Wake
71
F
Iona
65
Ohio
89
F
KennSt
51
UGA
84
F
NFla
66
Fla
98
F
HiPt
87
Citad
112
F
ULM
80
NWSt
52
F
(N/A)
69
SEMO
72
F
Penn
76
DelSt
48
F
NoKY
93
MorSt
71
F
TexAr
58
Tuls
72
F
Lamar
65
SMU
79
F
ChaSo
55
Marq
76
F
Savan
85
Vand
120
F
N TX
57
Okla
73
F
Bois
74
Drake
83
F
SDak
57
Baylor
63
F
FaDi
59
Prov
69
F
E WA
59
Wash
83
F
(N/A)
61
Web
100
F
UND
76
MTSt
81
F
SIU
82
ColSt
67
F
Temp
79
Mizzu
77
F
(N/A)
44
Ida
98
F
JackSt
44
SDSU
87
F
CSNor
94
WaSt
103
F

Nov 27, 2018, 7:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

(13) Virginia Tech

37

25

62

Penn State

35

28

63

Jones leads Penn State to win over No. 13 Virginia Tech
Tue Nov 27, 2018 10:46 PM

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Pat Chambers predicted two weeks ago that opponents would soon come to respect Myreon Jones' sharpshooting abilities.

When the Penn State freshman finally got his chance to showcase his shot against a ranked team on Tuesday night, he lived up to his coach's billing.

Jones scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half to lead Penn State to a 63-62 upset win over No. 13 Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Jones played 22 minutes and finished the game 7-for-11 and was 4-for-8 from 3-point range.

"I told you guys," Chambers said. "This kid's nickname is Buckets. I knew it was only matter of time before he'd see the ball go in."

Lamar Stevens added 14 points and eight rebounds and Rasir Bolton chipped in 11 points for the Nittany Lions (4-2), who snapped Virginia Tech's five-game winning streak. It was Penn State's first win over a nonconference Top 25 team at home in 20 years.

Justin Robinson led the Hokies (5-1) with 19 points while Ty Outlaw added 16. Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 14 and 13 points respectively for the Hokies who led 37-35 at halftime.

Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams was among those unfamiliar with Jones. Williams offered a quiet "no" when he was asked afterward if he thought the young guard would contribute that much with Stevens and a host of other known-shooters on the floor for Penn State.

"I mean that respectfully, too," Williams said. "I thought they executed their plan very well. We were not great in some things we've been great at and that's a credit to them."

The Hokies, playing for the first time on the road this season, used a 9-0 run midway through the second half that gave them a 50-44 lead. But Jones led the Nittany Lions back to a 56-55 advantage with 10 points over the next five minutes.

Bolton hit his third 3-pointer of the game to give Penn State the lead for good, 61-58 lead with 3:57 to play.

Blackshear and Josh Reaves traded baskets over the next 40 seconds and those were the final baskets of the game as Penn State went scoreless over the final 3:16.

Robinson made two free throws with 1:24 left to get Virginia Tech within one, but the Hokies missed three shots and had a turnover in the final 90 seconds.

Virginia Tech led 21-13 midway through the first half after four-straight 3-pointers from Outlaw preceded a pair free throws from Blackshear Jr.

But Stevens made a layup through traffic to spark a tying run that included back-to-back 3-pointers from Jamari Wheeler and Bolton 24 seconds apart. Stevens hit another basket moments later to give Penn State a lead it wouldn't relinquish until Robinson drained back-to-back 3s to give Virginia Tech a 37-35 halftime lead.

BIG MAN'S BACK

With Reaves between free throws just 2:16 into the game, Watkins got up from his courtside seat and slid out of his warmups to hearty cheers. The forward missed the first five games of this season recovering from personal issues. A right knee injury cost him the final nine games last season.

"He changes their team," Williams said.

Chambers announced Monday that Watkins would be a game-time decision and the big man appeared to be working his way back into shape. He played 21 minutes, made one basket and grabbed seven rebounds.

SLOW ROBINSON

Penn State's defensive strategy was simple enough and it helped the Nittany Lions play what Chambers called their best second half of defense in his 10-year tenure.

The Nittany Lions forced nine second-half turnovers and held the Hokies to just 10-for-26 shooting over the final 20 minutes.

"Everything was about Robinson for me," Chambers said. "Another cliche, we wanted to cut the head off."

THE TAKEAWAY

Virginia Tech: Sitting at their highest ranking in the AP Top 25 since the 1995-96 season, the Hokies have plenty of offensive talent and have played well enough on defense to indicate they should be able to climb higher.

Penn State: Getting Watkins back should be a boost for a team that got 20-plus plus points in six-straight games from Stevens before Tuesday to go with a bunch of complimentary scoring from freshmen Myles Dread and Bolton. With No. 24 Maryland next, the Nittany Lions will have a shot to post back-to-back wins over ranked teams for the first time since 2011. ... The Nittany Lions beat then-No. 10 Temple in 1998 at home.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech hosts Central Connecticut on Saturday.

Penn State visits No. 24 Maryland on Saturday.

Leaders

Virginia Tech PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Robinson 19 0 1 4 2 0
T. Outlaw 16 0 1 4 0 1
Penn State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
M. Jones 18 0 0 1 0 0
L. Stevens 14 0 3 8 0 1

Team Comparison

VaTec PSU
Points For 62 63
Field Goals 22/50-44% 25/57-44%
Three Pointers 10/19-53% 9/29-31%
Free Throws 8/13-62% 4/7-57%
Offensive Rebounds 8 14
Defensive Rebounds 21 22
Rebounds 32 37
Blocks 3 5
Steals 11 8
Turnovers 15 16
Personal Fouls 14 16
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - PSU Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Tue Nov 27 VaTec 62 @ PSU 63 J. Robinson 19 M. Jones 18

Game Information

Stadium: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 8,373
Game Time: