For the second straight game Penn State couldn’t overcome a barrage of deep threes as the Nittany Lions fell 86-74 to Radford despite shooting 47% from the field.
The Highlanders answered with a blistering 56% shooting pace that kept Penn State from ever making that final push to tie the game.
Penn State opened the first half as slow as a family after Thanksgiving dinner, falling down early to Radford to the tune of a 22-11 margin with 8:27 to go in the opening 20 minutes of play. Radford, not long removed from an upset win over Georgetown made seven first half shots from beyond the arc.
The Nittany Lions on the other hand struggled in the opening phases of the game going 12-of-26 from the floor before using a 23-15 run to close the gap. Radford took a three point lead into the break on a last second shot.
Despite the lethargic start Penn State was paced by a fairly balanced effort with Barndon Taylor and Josh Reaves each chipping in eight points while Devin Foster went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field for seven points. Julian Moore hauled in two rebounds and a steal to go with three points in his first start of the year over Jordan Dickerson.
Penn State started the second half off with a 9-3 run to take a three point lead early in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Radford continued its own hot shooting though as Penn State slowed on the offensive end. Radford went up 70-59 before a Brandon Taylor basket cut into the lead and Shep Garner followed with a basket of his own to wake up an otherwise quiet Jordan Center crowd with Penn State down just seven with 7:02 to go.
The comeback wasn’t to be as Radford continued to make shot after shot as the Nittany Lions struggled to find offense at key moments and the Highlanders made 62% of their second half attempts.
Penn State ended Tuesday night’s contest with five scorers in double figures led by Julian Moore’s 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting with Brandon Taylor finishing with 15 while Foster, Payton Banks and Shep Garner all squeaked into the double figure margin.
While the outcome itself is obviously not idea for Penn State, Radford’s win over Georgetown earlier this season has done a lot to legitimize the Highlander’s standing as a program. Penn State’s ability get five players in double figures and registered 13 assists is far from two stats worth overlooking.
Ultimately Penn State will have to improve in many areas to get something meaningful out of this season, but with talent headed to town next year, experiences may be the best teacher in this case.
