Lamar Wilkerson scored a career-high 44 points and set a school record with 10 3-pointers in Indiana’s resounding 113-72 win over Penn State on Tuesday in Bloomington, Ind.
Wilkerson, a transfer from Sam Houston State, finished 16-of-22 shooting from the field and 10-of-15 from 3-point range in an electric 24-minute performance. Reed Bailey added 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line, while Tayton Conerway chipped in 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
Indiana (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten) finished at 68.9% shooting from the floor and a blistering 54.8% (17-of-31) from 3-point range.
Kayden Mingo scored 19 points to pace Penn State (8-2, 0-1). Freddie Dilione V notched 14 points for the Nittany Lions, while Melih Tunca added 13 points.
Indiana led 12-9 after seven minutes before Conerway made a 3-pointer to begin the onslaught.
Wilkerson’s driving layup with 10 ½ minutes left in the half sent the lead into double digits for the first time. That bucket was part of a 20-3 run by the hosts and a personal 9-0 run by Wilkerson, who drained a 3-pointer shortly thereafter to make it 30-12.
After a basket by Mingo, the Hoosiers responded with a 7-0 burst to make it 37-14.
Things didn’t get any better for the Nittany Lions, who trailed 47-16 after Conerway’s layup with 3:54 left in the half.
Bailey’s three-point play in the final minute sent Indiana into the locker room with a 58-26 advantage.
Wilkerson led all scorers with 20 first-half points, fueling a 67.6% shooting effort by the hosts. Penn State, meanwhile, had more turnovers (11) than baskets (nine) in the first half.
Wilkerson caught fire from 3-point range early in the second half, burying five triples in the first six minutes. The final 3-pointer in that sequence made it 81-34 before Bailey’s dunk gave Indiana its largest lead at 49 points.
Wilkerson had one more hot stretch, during which he made a jumper, the record-breaking 3-pointer and two free throws to cap his special night.
