Roko Prkacin wasted no time making his presence felt in Penn State’s season opener, and he did it in the most efficient way possible.
Coming off the bench Monday night in University Park, Prkacin poured in 28 points to power the Nittany Lions to a 97-57 win over Canisius. Penn State controlled the game from the start, led by as many as 22 in the first half, and took a 47-26 cushion into the break.
Prkacin was sharp all night, hitting 12 of 14 shots and 4 of 5 free throws. He had 12 points in the first half alone, then helped blow the game open early in the second by outscoring the Golden Griffins 12-2 over a three-minute stretch as Penn State stretched the margin to 66-35.
Ivan Juric gave the Nittany Lions a strong inside performance with 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Josh Reed added 12 points. Penn State shot 55% from the field and finished 21 of 29 at the line.
Canisius got 13 points from Clinton Efinda and 12 from Preist Ryan, but never found much rhythm against a Penn State team that also moved the ball well, finishing with 20 assists. The Golden Griffins shot 24 of 61 overall and were held to 57 points.
Penn State’s biggest lead came late, when it reached 96-54 in the final minute.
The Nittany Lions have now won all four meetings with Canisius, including a 97-67 victory in 2022.
Penn State returns to action Thursday against Chattanooga.
In Other News...
Penn State Has One Big Reason To Watch Ohio State Tonight
The first College Football Playoff rankings arrive Tuesday night, and for Penn State fans the most interesting part may be less about the Nittany Lions themselves than where Ohio State lands in the opening top 25. The initial release always sets the tone for the weeks ahead, and this one comes with plenty of uncertainty as the selection committee weighs recent results, injuries and the kind of rsum quirks that can push teams up or down in a hurry.
Ohio State is part of a crowded discussion that also includes programs like Notre Dame, BYU, Kentucky and Alabama, which means every placement will be scrutinized for clues about how the committee is thinking. Penn State has its own reasons to pay attention, because the rankings often reveal whether the committee is leaning on record, eye test or the sort of caution that can keep a team from repeating past mistakes once the seasons biggest games start to sort everything out. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Recruiting Push Is Starting To Feel Uncomfortably Familiar
Penn States 2027 recruiting class has already taken on a strange shape, with more departures than additions after two commits backed away and only one pledge coming in. For a program that has spent much of the cycle trying to build early momentum, the churn has made the class feel more fragile than the Nittany Lions would like, especially as they continue to work the trail with an eye on strengthening the roster in key spots.
The bigger issue is the kind of targets Penn State is chasing. The staff has been pursuing several recruits who are already committed elsewhere, often from programs with lower roster spending and lower rankings, which has made this feel like a familiar kind of recruiting battle. Wide receiver Arnold Mugerwa is among the notable names on that list, and his recruitment fits the larger theme for Penn State, which is still trying to add more firepower to a receiver group that remains a priority. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Big Ten Breakthrough Put Recruiting Pressure On Rivals
Penn States 31-17 win over Purdue did more than give Matt Campbell his first Big Ten victory as coach. It also served as a showcase for the program, with several recruits and commits on hand to watch the Nittany Lions handle business in conference play. Among the visitors were 4-star cornerback KeiShjuan Telfair and 247Sports 4-star defensive end Tristan Alexander, one of the top players in Pennsylvanias 2029 class.
The crowd in attendance also included potential flip targets and other prospects taking in the atmosphere and the way Penn State performed on the field. For a program trying to keep momentum rolling, those kinds of game-day visits matter, especially when the team can point to a convincing league win and the kind of environment recruits remember. The bigger question now is how much that visit weekend can move the needle with the players who were watching closest. [Read more 🡒]