The Bryce Jordan Center was rocking Sunday afternoon, and for good reason - Penn State men’s basketball finally broke through in Big Ten play, edging out Minnesota in a heart-pounding 77-75 win. And when the game was on the line, it was freshman point guard Kayden Mingo who stepped up and delivered a moment that Nittany Lions fans won’t forget anytime soon.
With the score tied at 75 and the clock winding down, Penn State had the ball and the chance to win it. The play broke down, and Mingo found himself in a tough spot - dribble picked up, defenders closing in.
But instead of panicking, the freshman showed poise well beyond his years. He kept pivoting, hunting for daylight, and finally found just enough of it to step through and get off a clean look.
The shot dropped as time expired, and just like that, the Lions had their first conference win - and a signature moment for their young star.
The place erupted. Teammates mobbed Mingo on the court, and the crowd let loose after a rollercoaster of a finish.
But this win wasn’t just about one shot or one player. It was a full team effort - and it had to be.
Penn State came into this one shorthanded, missing three key frontcourt contributors. Starting center Ivan Juric was sidelined with a 103-degree fever.
Fellow freshman forward Tibor Mirtic, who was nearing a return from a knee injury, suffered a shoulder setback in practice and showed up in a sling. And junior big man Sasa Ciani remains out as he works his way back from injury.
That meant the Lions had to get creative - and gritty - to stay in this one. Redshirt junior Freddie Dilione V. led the charge, pouring in 25 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. He was the engine all afternoon, attacking with confidence and setting the tone offensively.
Senior Josh Reed added 18 points, four rebounds, and chipped in a couple of assists and a steal. He was steady and efficient, providing veteran leadership on a day when it was badly needed.
Then there was Mingo. After a quiet first half, the freshman exploded for 12 of his 14 points in the second, including the game-winner. His ability to stay composed in the final moments was exactly what head coach Mike Rhoades pointed to after the game.
“We wanted to make sure that we were trying to get downhill,” Rhoades said. “What I was proud about Kayden there, being a freshman guard in that situation, is that he did not panic.
He’s a strong pivoter. He’s a tough kid with the ball.
So he didn’t panic, and he knew he had a little bit of time. He was pivoting, and pivoting through, and got a little bit of an angle and step-through.
He got his shot blocked a bunch today around the basket with length, but that time he got it off - and that was nice.”
Sophomore Dominick Stewart also made his presence felt, finishing with 12 points, two rebounds and three assists. He gave Penn State a reliable scoring punch and helped keep the offense moving when things bogged down.
For a team that’s battled injuries and inconsistency through the early part of conference play, this win was more than just a notch in the standings. It was a gut-check moment - and one that showed what this group is capable of when it digs in.
And for Kayden Mingo, it was a coming-out party. The highest-ranked recruit in program history just delivered his first true “remember me” moment in a Penn State uniform.
Something tells us it won’t be his last.