DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Senior Nick Kern Jr. came off the bench to score 20 points and grab 13 rebounds for the first double-double of his career, leading Penn State to an 85-66 victory over Fordham in a Sunshine Slam Beach Division semifinal on Monday.

The Nittany Lions have started a season with six straight wins for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. They will play the winner of the other semifinal between Clemson and San Francisco in the championship game on Tuesday.

Kern made 9 of 12 shots from the floor and 2 of 5 at the free throw line for Penn State. Four of his career rebound totals came on the offensive end.

Zach Hicks hit three three-pointers and scored 16 for the Nittany Lions. Puff Johnson added 15 points and Ace Baldwin Jr. and Konan Niederhauser both scored 12.

Jackie Johnson III and reserve Josh Rivera each scored 15 to lead the Rams (3-4). Romad Dean totaled thirteen points and nine rebounds. Jahmere Tripp contributed 13 points and four steals off the bench.

Hicks had 10 points and Johnson scored nine as Penn State took a 42-34 lead into halftime. Hicks hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to spark a 15-4 run to start the game, and the Nittany Lions never looked back.

Kern scored 12 points and eight rebounds, and Niederhauser scored 10 with seven boards to help the Nittany Lions beat Fordham 43-32 in the second half.

Penn State came into the game averaging 98.2 points per game – second highest in the country. The Nittany Lions shot 52.6% from the floor, made 5 of 14 from beyond the arc and 20 of 32 at the free throw line.

Fordham shot 48.1%, making 4 of 18 from distance and 10 of 20 at the foul line.

Keith Urgo, who was an assistant coach at Penn State from 2012 to 2021, is in his third season leading the Rams.

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