Clutch Finish Lifts Penn State to First Big Ten Win, Thanks to Freshman Kayden Mingo
It took 11 tries, but Penn State basketball finally broke through in Big Ten play-and it came in dramatic fashion.
The Nittany Lions (10-12, 1-10) pulled out a 77-75 win over Minnesota (10-12, 3-8) at the Bryce Jordan Center, snapping a frustrating conference skid behind a fearless game-winner from freshman point guard Kayden Mingo. With just 1.2 seconds left on the clock, Mingo drove into traffic and finished at the rim, sealing a much-needed victory and sending his teammates into a frenzy.
Mingo’s poise in the moment was emblematic of what he’s been bringing to this team all season. The highly touted freshman finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, but it was that final bucket that will be remembered most.
“I give all the thanks and glory to Jesus Christ and my teammates for being there for me and my coaches for instilling confidence in me,” Mingo said postgame, surrounded by teammates who mobbed him after the buzzer.
While Mingo had the final word, it was Freddie Dilione V who set the tone offensively. The sophomore guard poured in a game-high 25 points on 17 shots and added 5 rebounds.
He was aggressive from the start, attacking the rim and creating space off the dribble, giving Penn State the offensive spark it’s often lacked during this tough stretch. Josh Reed added 18 points and was lights-out from deep, going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
After a grueling January that saw Penn State come up short time and again, head coach Mike Rhoades didn’t hide his emotions.
“It’s relief, without a doubt,” Rhoades said. “January wasn’t a lot of fun around here. We had stretches of good basketball against good teams, but not big enough, not experienced enough, not good enough to win.”
But Rhoades has stayed consistent with his message all season: no excuses. And that was tested again on Sunday.
Starting center Ivan Jurić was ruled out after waking up with a 103-degree fever. Tibor Mirtic and Sasa Ciani, both dealing with injuries, were also unavailable.
That left the Nittany Lions shorthanded in the frontcourt, but Rhoades wasn’t about to let that define the day.
“As much as it stinks, it is what it is,” he said. “Like we’re not canceling the game.
That’s life sometimes. My dad always told me, ‘no excuses, figure it out.’”
And they did. Despite being down key pieces, Penn State found a way to win a 40-minute battle in one of the most physical conferences in college basketball. That’s no small feat.
“I told the guys we’re going to find a way to win today,” Rhoades said. “The staff was awesome.
We had belief. We’ve played some good basketball, just not good enough to win a 40-minute game in the Big Ten.
Today we found a way to win.”
For a team that’s been searching for something to build on, this could be it. The Nittany Lions finally saw their effort turn into results. And for a young core led by Mingo, Dilione, and Reed, that kind of validation matters.
“It’s a good sense of relief getting our first win in conference,” Dilione said. “We just got to carry it over to the next game and keep the momentum going.”
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Next up is a trip to Ann Arbor for a rematch with Michigan. But for the first time in weeks, Penn State heads into a game with a little wind at its back-and a reminder that it knows how to finish.