Mike Watkins
FILE - Penn State guard Myreon Jones (0) drives past Maryland guard Anthony Cowan Jr. (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa., in this Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, file photo. Penn State went 21-10, made a cameo appearance in the Top 25 for the first time since 1996 and finished 11-9 mark in conference play last season but lost leading scorer Lamar Stevens and leading rebounder Mike Watkins to graduation. The team that relied heavily on its frontcourt will have to find scoring from a backcourt led by junior Myreon Jones and Binghampton transfer Sam Sessoms. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
Penn State faces uncertain season after Chambers' ouster

Nov. 11, 2020 01:54 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — It took the better part of a decade, but Patrick

Penn State forward John Harrar, center, shoots against Northwestern forward Miller Kopp, left, and forward Robbie Beran during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Kopp scores 21, Northwestern stuns No. 20 Penn State 80-69

By Jared Wyllys Mar. 07, 2020 06:39 PM EST
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Penn State coach Patrick Chambers chose to focus on the

Michigan State's Cassius Winston (5) shoots as Penn State's Mike Watkins (24) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/John Beale)
Tillman leads No. 16 Spartans to comeback win

By Travis Johnson Mar. 03, 2020 09:22 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Tom Izzo thought his No. 16 Michigan State squad

Iowa's Luka Garza (55) and Penn State's John Harrar reach for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Cliff Jette)
Garza leads No. 18 Iowa to 77-68 win over No. 16 Penn State

Feb. 29, 2020 02:05 PM EST
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Garza knew he missed plenty of chances to score in

Penn State's Lamar Stevens (11) reacts with Izaiah Brockington (12) and Myles Dread after a foul during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
No. 13 Penn State tops Northwestern 77-61

By Travis Johnson Feb. 15, 2020 02:18 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State coach Patrick Chambers has watched his

Penn State forward Lamar Stevens (11) drives past Purdue forward Aaron Wheeler (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
No. 13 Penn State relies on 3-point flurry to win at Purdue

By Michael Marot Feb. 11, 2020 08:59 PM EST
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Seth Lundy delivered a flurry of first-half scoring

Nebraska's Haanif Cheatham, left, drives to the basket against Penn State's Mike Watkins (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
No. 24 Penn St. rides 2nd-half run to 76-64 win over Huskers

By Eric Olson Feb. 01, 2020 09:15 PM EST
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — With a measuring-stick game at Michigan State up next, No.

Penn State's Mike Watkins (24) shoots over Ohio State's Kyle Young (25) during first half action of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State tops No. 21 Ohio State 90-76

By Travis Johnson Jan. 18, 2020 04:38 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Although foul trouble kept him on the bench for

Rutgers forward Akwasi Yeboah, left, shoots over Penn State guard Izaiah Brockington during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Michael Owens)
Harper scores 22 to help Rutgers beat No. 20 Penn State

Matt Sugam Jan. 07, 2020 09:55 PM EST
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers' season of expectations is off to a historic

Penn State head coach Patrick Chambers directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
No. 21 Penn State topples No. 23 Iowa 89-86 in Philly

By Dan Gelston Jan. 04, 2020 06:15 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lamar Stevens punctuated a late bucket that assured Penn

Penn State's Jamari Wheeler (5) passes around Cornell's Bryan Knapp (5) during first half action of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Watkins leads No. 20 Penn State over Cornell 90-59

By Travis Johnson Dec. 29, 2019 02:15 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The smile on Mike Watkins’ face was nearly as large

Stevens leads Penn State over Alabama 73-71

By Travis Johnson Dec. 14, 2019 04:28 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — When Pat Chambers needs his best player to pick up

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Syracuse basketball struggles early with 5-4 start to season

By John Kekis Dec. 12, 2019 11:42 AM EST
UNDATED (AP) — Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim isn't used to this — nine games into

Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon reacts to a call in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State in State College, Pa., on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Watkins, Stevens lead Penn State over No. 4 Maryland

By Travis Johnson Dec. 10, 2019 09:25 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — At 6-foot-9, Mike Watkins always stands out in a

Jones leads Penn State over Wake Forest with career night

By Travis Johnson Dec. 04, 2019 11:42 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Myreon Jones lived up to his nickname on Wednesday

Mississippi forward Khadim Sy (3) and forward KJ Buffen (5) react during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Oklahoma State in the final of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in New York. Oklahoma State won 78-37. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
McGriff, Anei lead Oklahoma St. past Mississippi 78-37

By Denis P. Gorman Nov. 30, 2019 12:33 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Boynton could remember such a complete win.

Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier (1) drives against Penn State forward Mike Watkins (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Stevens, Watkins help Penn St. beat Syracuse 85-64

By Denis P. Gorman Nov. 29, 2019 09:53 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — The Penn State Nittany Lions believed they have the makings of

Syracuse forward Bourama Sidibe (34) shoots past Penn State forward Mike Watkins (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
San Francisco Dons at Houston Cougars 11/30/2019

Nov. 29, 2019 07:59 PM EST

Ole Miss rallies late, edges Penn St. at NIT Season Tip-Off

By Denis P. Gorman Nov. 27, 2019 08:21 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — It is one of the oldest adages in sports: Good players win

Stevens' big second half propels Penn State over Bucknell

By Travis Johnson Nov. 19, 2019 08:39 PM EST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Lamar Stevens didn’t like the pace Penn State was