High-scoring Penn State rolls into Philly to face Drexel

Penn State takes its high-octane offense on the road Saturday when it visits Drexel in Philadelphia.

The Nittany Lions (9-2) rank in the top 10 nationally in points per game (89.6), field-goal percentage (51.6), steals (10.5) and assists (19.3). The program’s best 11-game start since 2019-20 is led by dynamic point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. and a variety of talented shooters.

Baldwin averages 8.7 assists — third in the nation — and is coming off a school-record 16-assist performance in last Saturday’s 99-51 win over Coppin State. Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 14 points, while Zach Hicks, Jahvin Carter, D’Marco Dunn and Dominick Stewart each made multiple 3-pointers.

“Ace would rather have an assist than a basket, but he does both,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said of the senior, who also averages 14.1 points while shooting 93.0 percent from the foul line. “He’s been setting the table for his teammates and he did that at such a high level today. Over 700 career assists is no small feat.”

Rhoades is excited for the potential to display his improving program to the Philadelphia crowd.

“To get back in the Philly area, we’re going to recruit that area all the time and we have some guys from down there as well,” Rhoades said.

Drexel (8-4) has won three straight games, most recently a 68-65 road victory over Howard on Tuesday. Jason Drake scored a career-high 21 points, while Yame Butler chipped in 16 points.

“The margin (between) success/relief and losing/misery — however you want to define it — is razor thin,” Dragons coach Zach Spiker said.

Kobe MaGee, who is Drexel’s leading scorer at 15.3 points per game, has struggled with his shooting in three of the last four contests. He shot 3 of 10 against Howard, finishing with nine points to go with five rebounds and four assists.

The Nittany Lions are 6-0 all-time against the Dragons, although the teams have not met since 2015.

–Field Level Media