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Nick Kern Jr. leads Penn State over Fordham 85-66 for spot in Sunshine Slam Beach Division final

AP
Nov 25, 2024

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Senior Nick Kern Jr. came off the bench to score 20 points and grab 13 rebounds for the first double-double of his career, leading Penn State to an 85-66 victory over Fordham in a Sunshine Slam Beach Division semifinal on Monday.

The Nittany Lions have opened a season with six straight victories for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. They will play the winner of the other semifinal matchup between Clemson and San Francisco on Tuesday in the championship game.

Kern made 9 of 12 shots from the floor and 2 of 5 at the free-throw line for Penn State. Four of his career-high rebound total came at the offensive end.

Zach Hicks hit three 3-pointers and scored 16 for the Nittany Lions. Puff Johnson added 15 points and Ace Baldwin Jr. and Konan Niederhauser both scored 12.

Jackie Johnson III and reserve Josh Rivera scored 15 apiece to lead the Rams (3-4). Romad Dean totaled 13 points and nine rebounds. Jahmere Tripp contributed 13 points and four steals off the bench.

Hicks had 10 points and Johnson scored nine as Penn State took a 42-34 lead into halftime. Hicks hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to ignite a 15-4 run to start the game and the Nittany Lions never looked back.

Kern posted 12 points and eight rebounds, and Niederhauser scored 10 with seven boards to help the Nittany Lions outscore Fordham 43-32 in the second half.

Penn State came into the game averaging 98.2 point per game - second most in the nation. The Nittany Lions shot 52.6% from the floor, made 5 of 14 from beyond the arc and 20 of 32 at the free-throw line.

Fordham shot 48.1%, made 4 of 18 from distance and 10 of 20 at the foul line.

Keith Urgo, who was an assistant coach at Penn State from 2012-21, is in his third season leading the Rams.

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1st Half
PSU
Nittany Lions
42
FOR
Rams
34

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Yanic Konan Niederhauser vs. Abdou Tsimbila (Nittany Lions gains possession)
19:47	+2	Zach Hicks makes two point jump shot (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	2-0
19:16		Abdou Tsimbila turnover (lost ball) (Zach Hicks steals)
19:01		Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:59		Romad Dean defensive rebound
18:42		Yanic Konan Niederhauser personal foul (Will Richardson draws the foul)
18:27		Will Richardson turnover (back court violation)
18:06	+3	Zach Hicks makes three point jump shot (Kachi Nzeh assists)	5-0
17:53		Will Richardson misses three point jump shot
17:51		Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
17:39		Freddie Dilione V misses two point jump shot
17:37		Rams defensive rebound
17:27	+2	Japhet Medor makes two point jump shot	5-2
17:07		Kachi Nzeh misses two point layup
17:05		Romad Dean defensive rebound
16:55		Romad Dean offensive foul (Puff Johnson draws the foul)
16:55		Romad Dean turnover (offensive foul)
16:30		Abdou Tsimbila shooting foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
16:30	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-2
16:30	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-2
16:12		Jackie Johnson III turnover (traveling)
16:03		Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jackie Johnson III steals)
15:59		Zach Hicks shooting foul (Jackie Johnson III draws the foul)
15:59		TV timeout
15:59	+1	Jackie Johnson III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-3
15:59	+1	Jackie Johnson III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-4
15:39		Yanic Konan Niederhauser misses two point jump shot
15:37		Romad Dean defensive rebound
15:30		Abdou Tsimbila offensive foul (Yanic Konan Niederhauser draws the foul)
15:30		Abdou Tsimbila turnover (offensive foul)
15:14	+2	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point layup (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	9-4
14:58		Yanic Konan Niederhauser personal foul (Abdou Tsimbila draws the foul)
14:48		D'Marco Dunn personal foul (Joshua Rivera draws the foul)
14:41		Nick Kern Jr. shooting foul (Joshua Rivera draws the foul)
14:41		Joshua Rivera misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:41		Joshua Rivera misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:41		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
14:24	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point jump shot	11-4
14:00		Japhet Medor misses two point jump shot
13:58		Ace Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound
13:52		Freddie Dilione V turnover (lost ball) (Joshua Rivera steals)
13:42		Romad Dean misses three point jump shot
13:40		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
13:32	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point jump shot	13-4
13:05		Joshua Rivera misses two point layup
13:03		Ace Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound
12:59		D'Marco Dunn misses two point layup
12:57		Nick Kern Jr. offensive rebound
12:57	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup	15-4
12:57		Matt Zona shooting foul (Nick Kern Jr. draws the foul)
12:57	+1	Nick Kern Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	16-4
12:42		Jump ball. (Rams gains possession)
12:38	+2	Jackie Johnson III makes two point jump shot	16-6
12:16		Jahmere Tripp flagrant 1 (Puff Johnson draws the foul)
12:16		TV timeout
12:16	+1	Puff Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-6
12:16	+1	Puff Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-6
12:11		Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:09		Zach Riley defensive rebound
11:57		D'Marco Dunn personal foul (Jackie Johnson III draws the foul)
11:55		Joshua Rivera turnover (lost ball) (Nick Kern Jr. steals)
11:40		Puff Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:38		Rams defensive rebound
11:21	+2	Jackie Johnson III makes two point layup	18-8
11:05		Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jahmere Tripp steals)
10:56		Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot
10:54		Puff Johnson defensive rebound
10:40		Puff Johnson misses two point layup
10:38		Jaden Smith defensive rebound
10:29		Ace Baldwin Jr. personal foul (Zach Riley draws the foul)
10:29		Zach Riley misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:29		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
10:09	+2	Zach Hicks makes two point layup	20-8
10:08		Jaden Smith shooting foul (Zach Hicks draws the foul)
10:08	+1	Zach Hicks makes regular free throw 1 of 1	21-8
10:00		Jackie Johnson III turnover (bad pass) (Nick Kern Jr. steals)
9:52		Kachi Nzeh offensive foul
9:52		Kachi Nzeh turnover (offensive foul)
9:44		Jackie Johnson III misses two point layup
9:42		Romad Dean offensive rebound
9:36		Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot
9:34		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
9:33		Jaden Smith personal foul (Nick Kern Jr. draws the foul)
9:33		Nick Kern Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
9:33		Romad Dean defensive rebound
9:23	+2	Jahmere Tripp makes two point layup	21-10
9:07	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	23-10
8:40	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point jump shot (Matt Zona assists)	23-12
8:17		Zach Hicks misses three point jump shot
8:15		Freddie Dilione V offensive rebound
8:11	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup	25-12
7:49	+2	Matt Zona makes two point layup (Japhet Medor assists)	25-14
7:27		Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Japhet Medor steals)
7:22	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point dunk (Japhet Medor assists)	25-16
7:00		Matt Zona shooting foul (Nick Kern Jr. draws the foul)
7:00		TV timeout
7:00	+1	Nick Kern Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-16
7:00		Nick Kern Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:00		Romad Dean defensive rebound
6:39	+3	Japhet Medor makes three point jump shot (Will Richardson assists)	26-19
6:13	+2	Puff Johnson makes two point jump shot (Jahvin Carter assists)	28-19
5:52	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point jump shot	28-21
5:32		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
5:30		Will Richardson defensive rebound
5:23	+3	Romad Dean makes three point jump shot (Will Richardson assists)	28-24
4:59		Zach Hicks misses three point jump shot
4:57		Joshua Rivera defensive rebound
4:53		Joshua Rivera turnover (bad pass)
4:39	+2	Puff Johnson makes two point jump shot (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	30-24
4:22		Ace Baldwin Jr. shooting foul (Jackie Johnson III draws the foul)
4:22	+1	Jackie Johnson III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-25
4:22	+1	Jackie Johnson III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-26
4:02	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point jump shot	32-26
3:43		Nick Kern Jr. personal foul (Romad Dean draws the foul)
3:43		TV timeout
3:43		Romad Dean misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:43	+1	Romad Dean makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-27
3:32		Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (bad pass)
3:23		Romad Dean misses two point layup
3:21		Zach Hicks defensive rebound
3:12		Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point layup
3:10		Freddie Dilione V offensive rebound
2:50		Will Richardson personal foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
2:50	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-27
2:50	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-27
2:39		Joshua Rivera misses two point jump shot
2:37		Ace Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound
2:28		Puff Johnson misses two point layup
2:26		Kachi Nzeh offensive rebound
2:25	+2	Kachi Nzeh makes two point layup	36-27
2:25		Will Richardson shooting foul (Kachi Nzeh draws the foul)
2:25	+1	Kachi Nzeh makes regular free throw 1 of 1	37-27
2:16		Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot
2:14		Kachi Nzeh defensive rebound
1:57	+2	Zach Hicks makes two point jump shot (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	39-27
1:55		Freddie Dilione V personal foul (Jackie Johnson III draws the foul)
1:55		Jackie Johnson III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:55	+1	Jackie Johnson III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-28
1:32	+2	Puff Johnson makes two point jump shot	41-28
1:06		Puff Johnson personal foul (Jahmere Tripp draws the foul)
1:06	+1	Jahmere Tripp makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-29
1:06	+1	Jahmere Tripp makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-30
1:02		Freddie Dilione V turnover (bad pass) (Jahmere Tripp steals)
0:51	+2	Jackie Johnson III makes two point jump shot (Jahmere Tripp assists)	41-32
0:41		Japhet Medor personal foul (Puff Johnson draws the foul)
0:41	+1	Puff Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-32
0:41		Puff Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:41		Joshua Rivera defensive rebound
0:37		Rams 30 second timeout
0:12		Japhet Medor misses three point jump shot
0:10		Joshua Rivera offensive rebound
0:04		Joshua Rivera misses two point layup
0:02		Zach Riley offensive rebound
0:00	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point layup	42-34
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
PSU
Nittany Lions
43
FOR
Rams
32

Time		Play	Score
19:52	+2	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point layup	44-34
19:40	+2	Jackie Johnson III makes two point jump shot	44-36
19:19		Romad Dean shooting foul (Freddie Dilione V draws the foul)
19:19		Freddie Dilione V misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:19		Freddie Dilione V misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:19		Romad Dean defensive rebound
19:06		Japhet Medor turnover (bad pass) (Ace Baldwin Jr. steals)
19:00		Japhet Medor shooting foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
19:00	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-36
19:00	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-36
18:41	+3	Romad Dean makes three point jump shot (Jackie Johnson III assists)	46-39
18:26	+3	Puff Johnson makes three point jump shot (Freddie Dilione V assists)	49-39
18:00		Yanic Konan Niederhauser blocks Jackie Johnson III's two point layup
17:58		Zach Hicks defensive rebound
17:51		Zach Hicks misses two point layup
17:49		Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound
17:47		Abdou Tsimbila shooting foul (Yanic Konan Niederhauser draws the foul)
17:47		Yanic Konan Niederhauser misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:47	+1	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-39
17:32		Romad Dean turnover (bad pass) (Puff Johnson steals)
17:20		Freddie Dilione V turnover (bad pass) (Jackie Johnson III steals)
17:11	+2	Romad Dean makes two point dunk (Will Richardson assists)	50-41
17:01		Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point layup
16:59		Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound
16:54	+2	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point dunk	52-41
16:38	+2	Japhet Medor makes two point jump shot	52-43
16:24		Japhet Medor personal foul (Yanic Konan Niederhauser draws the foul)
16:17	+2	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point layup	54-43
15:52		Jaden Smith misses three point jump shot
15:50		Ace Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound
15:43		D'Marco Dunn turnover (lost ball) (Jahmere Tripp steals)
15:42		D'Marco Dunn personal foul (Jahmere Tripp draws the foul)
15:41		TV timeout
15:27	+2	Jahmere Tripp makes two point layup	54-45
15:09		Jaden Smith shooting foul (Yanic Konan Niederhauser draws the foul)
15:08	+1	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-45
15:08	+1	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-45
14:54	+2	Jackie Johnson III makes two point jump shot (Jahmere Tripp assists)	56-47
14:39		Nick Kern Jr. misses two point layup
14:37		Joshua Rivera defensive rebound
14:31		Jahmere Tripp misses two point layup
14:29		Jahmere Tripp offensive rebound
14:23	+2	Jahmere Tripp makes two point layup	56-49
14:14	+3	Zach Hicks makes three point jump shot (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	59-49
13:58		Will Richardson offensive foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
13:58		Will Richardson turnover (offensive foul)
13:48	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup	61-49
13:22		Zach Hicks shooting foul (Joshua Rivera draws the foul)
13:22		Joshua Rivera misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:22		Joshua Rivera misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:22		Yanic Konan Niederhauser defensive rebound
13:04		D'Marco Dunn misses three point jump shot
13:02		Nick Kern Jr. offensive rebound
12:50	+2	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point layup (Zach Hicks assists)	63-49
12:41		Rams 30 second timeout
12:41		TV timeout
12:32		Abdou Tsimbila offensive foul (D'Marco Dunn draws the foul)
12:32		Abdou Tsimbila turnover (offensive foul)
12:18		Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point layup
12:16		Japhet Medor defensive rebound
12:08		Will Richardson misses three point jump shot
12:06		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
11:56		D'Marco Dunn misses two point layup
11:54		Rams defensive rebound
11:54		TV timeout
11:33		Jahmere Tripp misses two point jump shot
11:31		Kachi Nzeh defensive rebound
11:06		Joshua Rivera personal foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
11:06	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-49
11:06	+1	Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	65-49
10:52		Jahvin Carter shooting foul (Japhet Medor draws the foul)
10:52	+1	Japhet Medor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-50
10:52		Japhet Medor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:52		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
10:43		Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point layup
10:41		Nick Kern Jr. offensive rebound
10:36	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup	67-50
10:29		Jahvin Carter personal foul (Japhet Medor draws the foul)
10:23		Joshua Rivera misses three point jump shot
10:21		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
10:01	+3	Puff Johnson makes three point jump shot (Nick Kern Jr. assists)	70-50
9:47		Ace Baldwin Jr. personal foul (Jackie Johnson III draws the foul)
9:43		Japhet Medor misses two point jump shot
9:41		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
9:32	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)	72-50
9:08	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point dunk (Japhet Medor assists)	72-52
9:08		Ace Baldwin Jr. shooting foul (Joshua Rivera draws the foul)
9:08	+1	Joshua Rivera makes regular free throw 1 of 1	72-53
8:54		Freddie Dilione V misses two point layup
8:52		Nick Kern Jr. offensive rebound
8:45	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point dunk (Jahmere Tripp assists)	72-55
8:45		Nittany Lions turnover
8:28		Jahvin Carter turnover (lost ball) (Jackie Johnson III steals)
8:27		Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
8:27		TV timeout
8:17		Jackie Johnson III misses three point jump shot
8:15		Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
8:02		Freddie Dilione V turnover (bad pass) (Jahmere Tripp steals)
7:56	+2	Joshua Rivera makes two point layup (Jackie Johnson III assists)	72-57
7:47	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup	74-57
7:29		Jahmere Tripp turnover (out of bounds)
7:19		Yanic Konan Niederhauser misses two point layup
7:17		Yanic Konan Niederhauser offensive rebound
7:12	+2	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes two point layup	76-57
7:01		Romad Dean misses three point jump shot
6:59		Yanic Konan Niederhauser defensive rebound
6:58		Abdou Tsimbila personal foul (Yanic Konan Niederhauser draws the foul)
6:58		Yanic Konan Niederhauser misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:58		Romad Dean defensive rebound
6:41		Romad Dean misses two point layup
6:39		Yanic Konan Niederhauser defensive rebound
6:29		Jaden Smith shooting foul (Yanic Konan Niederhauser draws the foul)
6:29	+1	Yanic Konan Niederhauser makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-57
6:29		Yanic Konan Niederhauser misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:29		Romad Dean defensive rebound
6:15		Joshua Rivera misses three point jump shot
6:13		Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
6:06		Nick Kern Jr. misses two point dunk
6:04		Zach Riley defensive rebound
5:48		Zach Riley misses two point jump shot
5:46		Yanic Konan Niederhauser defensive rebound
5:22	+3	Zach Hicks makes three point jump shot (Jahvin Carter assists)	80-57
5:02	+2	Romad Dean makes two point layup (Zach Riley assists)	80-59
4:49		Ryan Pettis personal foul (Jahvin Carter draws the foul)
4:49		Jahvin Carter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:49		Jahvin Carter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:49		Jaden Smith defensive rebound
4:30		Jahmere Tripp misses two point jump shot
4:28		Zach Riley offensive rebound
4:22	+2	Romad Dean makes two point layup (Ryan Pettis assists)	80-61
4:04		Jaden Smith blocks D'Marco Dunn's two point layup
4:02		Nittany Lions offensive rebound
3:53	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup	82-61
3:53		Jahmere Tripp shooting foul (Nick Kern Jr. draws the foul)
3:53		TV timeout
3:53		Nick Kern Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:53		Jahmere Tripp defensive rebound
3:31	+3	Jahmere Tripp makes three point jump shot (Romad Dean assists)	82-64
2:57		Nick Kern Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:55		Zach Hicks offensive rebound
2:51		Jahvin Carter misses three point jump shot
2:49		Jaden Smith defensive rebound
2:31		Ryan Pettis misses three point jump shot
2:29		Jahvin Carter defensive rebound
2:12	+2	Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup	84-64
1:48		Romad Dean misses three point jump shot
1:46		Zach Riley offensive rebound
1:37	+2	Jahmere Tripp makes two point layup (Zach Riley assists)	84-66
1:36		Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
1:23		Jahvin Carter misses two point layup
1:21		Will Richardson defensive rebound
1:00		Jahmere Tripp misses two point jump shot
0:58		Jaden Smith offensive rebound
0:57		Puff Johnson shooting foul (Jaden Smith draws the foul)
0:57		Jaden Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:57		Jaden Smith misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:57		Dominick Stewart defensive rebound
0:39		Jahmere Tripp personal foul (Dominick Stewart draws the foul)
0:39		Dominick Stewart misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:39	+1	Dominick Stewart makes regular free throw 2 of 2	85-66
0:23		Japhet Medor turnover
0:00		End of period

Japhet Medor turnover