(CTN Information) – He had his most spectacular capturing sport in additional than 20 years on Penn State’s large stage.
The Nittany Lions beat Texas A&M 76-59 Thursday evening for his or her first NCAA Match win in 22 years due to Funk’s 8-of-10 3-point capturing.
“He’s okay at capturing,” Penn State star Jalen Pickett deadpanned earlier than breaking into a large smile. His bounce shot takes lots of work. He’s obtained to be discovered when he will get going like that.”
The Tenth-seeded Nittany Lions gained their ninth sport in Funk’s first season at Penn State after transferring from Bucknell. The second spherical of the Midwest Area will happen on Saturday, when they may play the No. 2 seed Texas.
It opens up the rim just a little bit if you make these first and second photographs, Funk stated. I’m going to get lots of photographs from 3 on this offense.” It’s simple to get right into a rhythm in a sport like that.”
In 2001, Penn State upset North Carolina within the second spherical of the event in New Orleans. Once they obtained again to the event in 2011, they misplaced to Temple once more.
Coach Micah Shrewsberry stated, “We talked about this imaginative and prescient and it’s all coming collectively.” … We’re planning a run, a journey, and it’s nice.”
In its first NCAA Match since 2018, Texas A&M (25-10) gained 10 of 12. Solely twice since 2006 have the seventh-seeded Aggies misplaced within the first spherical.
Dexter Dennis led A&M with 19 factors on 34% capturing. The Aggies had a tough nonconference begin with a 6-5 document. Within the Southeastern Convention, they completed second and made the title sport.
“Regardless of this sport being yucky, I feel we’ll have nice reminiscences from the final 75 days,” Buzz Williams stated. “What’s occurred since then has been nice. We’ll look again on it later.”
Final weekend, Funk missed all 5 of his threes. After making his first 3-pointer towards the Aggies, he missed his second after which hit six straight.
Myles Dread stated he simply knew he was sizzling, so he saved searching for him.
His streak ended when he put up an air ball on a desperation 3 with the shot clock operating out.
It was one other sturdy all-around efficiency from Pickett with 19 factors, eight assists, no turnovers, and 7 rebounds.
To shut the primary half, Penn State outscored the Aggies 28-10. Within the first half, the Aggies hadn’t scored that few factors since Nov. 24, 2021.
Funk, Dread and Seth Lundy had loads of house to do what they do finest on the perimeter with the specter of 6-foot-10 Kebba Jjie within the publish. Within the lengthy distance, Penn State was 13 of twenty-two with threes from Dread and Lundy.
Just lately, the Aggies have had hassle within the NCAA Match. It was notorious that Williams was upset after they weren’t chosen final 12 months. The No. 7 seed was decrease than Texas A&M followers thought was honest.
TAKE A LOOK
The Lions’ dominance of their first NCAA Match sport since 2011 will shine much more mild on second-year coach Shrewsberry, whose title has been linked to Notre Dame and Georgetown jobs.
The Aggies’ first look within the event in 5 years ended with a thud. Their Candy 16 loss to Michigan was 27 factors.
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