For the first time since 2001, the Penn State men’s basketball team is playing for a spot in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
After a big win over Texas A&M in the first round on Thursday night, [autotag]Jalen Pickett[/autotag], Andrew Funk and the Nittany Lions take on Big 12 Tournament champion Texas in the second round on Saturday evening in Des Moines, Iowa.
During Penn State’s hot streak, the team has won six of its last seven games against NCAA Tournament teams, including two wins over a Northwestern team that also advanced to the second round.
The Nittany Lions will face a Texas team that flirted with a No. 1 seed in the tournament with a 26-8 season capped by a 76-56 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12 championship game.
Penn State and Texas lit their opponents up from 3-point range in their first-round victories. Funk drained eight 3-pointers against Texas A&M, and Sir’Jabari Rice connecting on seven for the Longhorns against Colgate. We could be in for a fun battle with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line between Penn State and Texas.
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Here’s how to watch the second-round action on Saturday.