Four takeaways from Penn State’s 42 point win against Binghamton

Mike Rhoades embarked on the new season with the core of his roster returning for his second year at the helm of Penn State basketball. Ace Baldwin, Nick Kern, Zach Hicks, Puff Johnson, and D’Marco Dunn pledged their allegiance to Rhoades and trusted his process to take the next step in year two.

On Monday night, the Nittany Lions defeated Binghamton 108-66, and all thirteen healthy players contributed on the floor. The two injured players, Miles Goodman and Eli Rice, should be back “sooner than later,” as Rhoades stated in his post-game press conference. 

Binghamton is a much inferior opponent to Penn State, but winning by that margin against any Division I team is impressive. Here are four takeaways from the victory:

Ace Baldwin is still Ace Baldwin

Baldwin entered his fifth collegiate season as the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year. Baldwin had two early three-pointers but picked up two fouls in the process, and he had to sit for a significant chunk of the half because of it. However, the time on the sidelines didn’t knock him out of his groove. The fifth-year point guard finished with 15 points, four assists, and three steals over 23 minutes. He facilitated the offense with ease after Rhoades praised him immensely before the season:

“I thought Ace, by far, had the best summer and preseason that he's ever had," Rhoades continued, "sometimes as you get older, you see things a little clearer. I've never had to worry about Ace competing and wanting to win, but what I love about him, he's taken a professional approach to improving himself and his game.”

Baldwin will need to keep up his elite play for the Nittany Lions, and he will be the anchor and most valuable piece to Rhoades’ system all season.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser will be Penn State’s X-factor

Konan Niederhauser transferred from Northern Illinois in the offseason, and he displayed his length and athleticism on Monday night. He finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds. Rhoades has made it clear that he wants his guys playing fast and upbeat, especially in transition. Niederhauser showed why he can be the perfect center in this system, running the floor well in transition all game. The seven-foot junior from Switzerland got to the free-throw line several times, making eight of his 12 free throws. Niederhauser will be the guy to fill the void left by last year's starting center Qudus Wahab throughout the season.

Zach Hicks’ shooting will be needed all season

Hicks returned to State College for his senior season, running it back with the core of last year’s team. A three-level scorer, Hicks displayed it all, finishing the game with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He shot 4/6 from three-point range, and 9/12 overall from the field. The 6-foot-8 forward is the best pure shooter on the team and will have the green light all season. Penn State needs him to shoot better than his 34.2% from three last season and ideally would want him in the high 30s. Hicks' performance was electric on Monday night, and he should easily lead the team in three-pointers made for the season. 

Freshmen Dominick Stewart and Jahvin Carter showcased plenty of promise

Arriving as three-star recruits, Dominick Stewart and Jahvin Carter’s roles on this 2024-25 Penn State basketball team were unclear. Fans did not really know what to expect, but with injuries to Goodman and Rice, along with playing a weak non-conference opponent, they received their first opportunities. 

Carter was the first freshman to enter the game and ended the game with four points, three assists, and two rebounds over 17 minutes. It’s apparent that he will be the secondary ball handler this season, and he proved why he earned that role during Monday’s game. The 6-foot-3 guard handled the ball well in transition, even showcasing a behind-the-back pass to Kern, who got fouled and ultimately missed the layup. Carter will be a project to watch this season, and Penn State fans should be eager to see how he develops throughout the season.

Stewart only played 9 minutes against Binghamton, but he made the most of it. Scoring 10 points on 4/5 shooting from the floor, Stewart ignited the fans at the Bryce Jordan Center. He made both of his three-point attempts and grabbed three rebounds. Look for Stewart to play a larger role next game against UMBC, as he made his case for more playing time.

Other notes and statistics:
- Penn State defense: 16 steals, forced 21 turnovers
- Kern stuffs the stat sheet: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks
- Dunn: 12 points, 3 steals, 4/9 FG, 17 minutes
- Dilione: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 23 minutes
- Johnson: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 23 minutes
- Nzeh: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 11 minutes