Penn State forward Zach Hicks attempts a 3-pointer in a 108-66 win over Binghamton on Nov. 4, 2024. Photo by Hailey Stutzman | For StateCollege.com

Penn State men’s basketball is off to a hot start, winning each of its first four games by at least 20 points. On Monday, the Nittany Lions received four votes in the AP Top 25 poll, their first appearance to any degree in the rankings since receiving votes in the final poll of the 2022-23 season.

After handily defeating Binghamton, UMBC and St. Francis (PA), Penn State handed Virginia Tech its first loss of the year in an 86-64 blowout on Friday. 

The Nittany Lions will return to action against Purdue Fort Wayne at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday and will play two more nonconference games before opening Big Ten play against No. 6 Purdue on Dec. 5.

Penn State is currently ranked No. 9 nationally with 97.2 points per game, an eye-opening mark in the early portion of Mike Rhoades’ second season as the team’s head coach.

Zach Hicks leads the Nittany Lions with 15.5 points per game, and a total of five players are currently averaging double-digit point totals.