Baldwin was effective from the field, making 6 of 16 shots, including three from beyond the arc, and hitting 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. In addition to his scoring, he also provided eight assists and five steals. Niederhauser had an impressive shooting night, hitting 7 of 8 attempts, and he added six rebounds to his stat line.
Nick Kern played a crucial role for Penn State, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds, while Fred Dilone V added 12 points alongside four assists.
For the Scarlet Knights, freshman Ace Bailey shone brightly with an impressive 30-point game, shooting 13 of 15 and sinking four 3-pointers. Lathan Sommerville contributed with 12 points and six rebounds as well.
The game started favorably for Rutgers, as Sommerville’s early efforts helped the Scarlet Knights establish a 6-0 run. However, Penn State quickly found its rhythm, and Baldwin’s three-point play allowed them to take a slight lead at 21-20. The Nittany Lions entered halftime ahead, 37-35.
In the second half, Rutgers briefly claimed the lead at 44-43 after a layup by Bailey. However, Penn State responded vigorously with an 11-0 run, fueled by Kern’s scoring and another three-pointer from Baldwin, creating a 61-53 edge with just over six minutes remaining.
As the game drew to a close, Rutgers fought back, narrowing the gap to 69-67 after Sommerville made a pair of free throws. But late-game performances by Niederhauser and Kern, especially after Dylan Harper missed a pivotal 3-pointer for Rutgers, ultimately sealed the win for Penn State.
Looking ahead, Penn State will head to Iowa for their next matchup on Friday, while Rutgers is set to host No. 8 Michigan State on Saturday.
