A’lahn Sumler picked a big stage for his breakout. In Pittsburgh’s 82-76 win over Penn State on Sunday night at The Palestra, the transfer from Charleston Southern poured in 26 points and sealed it at the line, knocking down two free throws with 13.2 seconds left in the 150th meeting between the in-state rivals.
Sumler had only 17 points combined across Pitt’s first two games, but he was the difference in this one, going 9-for-16 from the field and 5-for-5 at the stripe. The Panthers improved to 3-0 and have now taken back-to-back games from Penn State, which still leads the series 76-74.
Pitt leaned on a balanced supporting cast around Sumler. Baye Ndongo finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists before fouling out late, while Jonathan Powell added 13 points and a career-high five steals. Powell entered the night with 39 steals in 67 career games.
Penn State got strong numbers from Dasonte Bowen, who scored 17 points, and Ivan Juric, who posted 16 points and 13 rebounds. Roko Prkacin and Josh Reed each added 11 points and seven rebounds.
The closing stretch got tense after Ndongo hammered home a dunk to push Pitt ahead by eight with 1:56 left. Penn State answered with a 3-pointer from Juric at the 46-second mark, then Reed scored on a layup. Brown followed with two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to trim the margin to 78-76, but that was as close as the Nittany Lions would get.
Pitt also controlled the final minutes of the first half, when Penn State managed just one field goal in its last eight attempts over the last five minutes. The Panthers turned that into a 14-3 run and carried a 42-38 lead into halftime.
The game was part of a doubleheader celebrating The Palestra’s 100th anniversary. Richmond opened the night with a 79-53 win over Temple.
Penn State returns home to face Mercyhurst on Thursday, while Pitt plays Friday at Butler.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Got A Scary Jack Ham Update
Penn State fans got a jolt before kickoff when Hall of Famer Jack Ham was hospitalized in Seattle after a medical emergency ahead of a Penn State game. Ham, who starred for the Nittany Lions before becoming a longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, has remained a familiar presence around the program for years as a color commentator on Penn State football radio broadcasts.
Matt Campbell later offered a reassuring update, saying Ham is making great progress and remains in stable condition. For a fan base that has heard Hams voice and seen his connection to the program for so long, the news brought an immediate wave of concern, and then some relief as his condition improved. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Got Another Big NFL Reminder This Weekend
Former Penn State players kept popping up all over the NFL scoreboard in Week 9, another reminder of how much pro talent has come out of Happy Valley. Kaytron Allen chipped in on special teams for the Miami Dolphins with a 46-yard fake punt run and picked up his first career reception, while Saquon Barkley found the end zone for the Philadelphia Eagles. Elsewhere, Parker Washington hauled in a touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars, adding to a weekend that kept Penn State fans checking box scores well after the college games were over.
The biggest late-game swing came from Juwan Johnson, who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime for the New Orleans Saints, while Dani Dennis-Sutton added tackles and a sack for the Green Bay Packers. It was the kind of scattered but steady showing that underscores how deep Penn States NFL footprint remains, with alumni contributing in every phase and at every level. For a fan base that tracks its former stars closely, this was one of those weekends that made the pro schedule feel a little like a reunion. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Bowl Projections Just Sparked A Travel Debate Among Fans
Penn States latest win pushed the Nittany Lions to five victories and put them within striking distance of bowl eligibility with three games left, which is exactly the point in the season when the projection chatter starts to heat up. National outlets have already begun slotting Penn State into a range of possible postseason destinations, with names like the Fenway Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Dukes Mayo Bowl and First Responder Bowl all showing up in the early guesses.
The travel conversation is part of the fun, but it is also a reminder of how much can still change before any real planning begins. Depending on how Penn State finishes, the matchup and location could shift along with it, and every projection remains speculative until bowl eligibility is officially secured. For fans, the next few weeks will decide not just whether there is a bowl trip, but what kind of trip it might turn into. [Read more 🡒]