EditorsNote: Corrects Bucknell 3-point drought in graf 6; deletes what was third-to-last graf; corrects to 17-2 run in penultimate graf
Lamar Stevens scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lift host Penn State past Bucknell 98-70 at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa., on Tuesday.
Mike Watkins added 18 points and four blocked shots and Myles Dread had 12 points for the Nittany Lions, who improved to 4-0 after winning its opening game of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Jamari Wheeler also had 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting.
The Nittany Lions have now scored 80 or more points in their first four games for the first time in program history.
Andrew Funk led Bucknell with 15 points while Bruce Moore added 14.
Paul Newman and Jimmy Sotos had 10 apiece for the Bison, who fell to 2-3.
Penn State ripped off an 11-0 run to take an 18-8 lead with 12:02 remaining in the first half. Watkins, a fifth-year senior, dominated the low post and hit four of his first six shots as the Nittany Lions went ahead by double figures.
Bucknell missed five of its first six 3-pointers.
Newman later hit a short hook in the lane and the Bison pulled within 24-18.
Moore's offensive rebound and putback for Bucknell closed the gap to 33-31 with 4:23 left.
Watkins led the Nittany Lions with 10 points as they went into the locker room with a slim 45-42 advantage despite shooting 61 percent from the field.
Moore paced the Bison with 12 while Funk added 10 as they hit 13 of their final 19 shots of the opening half.
Penn State scored the first eight points of the second half for a 53-42 advantage. During the run, Stevens drove to the basket and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk.
The Penn State lead then moved to 71-51 thanks to a 17-2 run. The Nittany Lions continued their torrid shooting as they hit 12 of their first 13 shots of the second half.
Bucknell struggled with its shooting and Penn State extended its advantage to 91-66 with 5:03 remaining.
--Field Level Media
