Melih Tunca - College Basketball News & Rumors

Reed, Dilione late heroics send Penn State to surprise win over Iowa 71-69

Josh Reed scored a career-high 25 points shooting 9 for 12 and Penn State rallied at the end to beat Iowa 71-69

FEBRUARY 28 • Associated Press

Not part of starting lineup Tunca is not part of the Nittany Lions' starting lineup for their upcoming game Sunday against USC.

Impact For the Nittany Lions' latest game, their starting lineup includes Tunca. As for Sunday, in place of him is Eli Rice.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Burnett scores career-high 31, No. 2 Michigan routs Penn St 110-69 to reach school-record 21-1 mark

Nimari Burnett scored a career-high 31 points, leading No. 2 Michigan to a 110-69 win over Penn State

FEBRUARY 6 • Associated Press

33 minutes off bench in win Tunca produced six points (3-5 FG), one rebound and three assists over 33 minutes during Sunday's 77-75 win over Minnesota.

Impact Tunca's 33 minutes tied his most action in a game this season. He finished with six points and three assists, not eye-popping numbers, but he's clearly earned the trust of the Nittany Lions coaching staff even in a bench role. Still, since his departure from the starting five, his production has been extremely volatile, so he remains a risky proposition for fantasy purposes.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

John Mobley Jr. scores 25 to lead Ohio State over Penn State 84-78

John Mobley Jr. scored 25 points to help Ohio State hold off Penn State 84-78

JANUARY 27 • Associated Press

Kept quiet in loss Tunca totaled five points (1-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, three assists, one block and one steal across 33 minutes during Wednesday's 71-60 loss to UCLA.

Impact Tunca's minutes haven't necessarily taken a hit since he was removed from Penn State's starting five in late December, but his production certainly has, and he was an ice cold 1-of-6 from the field as the Nittany Lions dropped yet another conference game. Tunca was a much bigger factor for Penn State earlier in the season; fantasy managers should proceed with caution at this point.

JANUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Braden Smith has 26 points, 14 assists to lead No. 5 Purdue to a 93-85 win against Penn State

Braden Smith had 26 points and 14 assists and Oscar Cluff had 23 points to lead No. 5 Purdue to a 93-85 win against Penn State

JANUARY 10 • Associated Press

Not part of starting lineup Tunca is not part of the Nittany Lions' starting lineup for their upcoming game Monday against North Carolina Central.

Impact Penn State's starting lineup includes multiple changes after a disastrous loss to Pitt that saw starting wings Tunca and Dominick Stewart score zero. In their place are Freddie Dilione and Eli Rice, and Tunca will log his first bench appearance since opening night on Nov. 3.

DECEMBER 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Little bit of everything in win Tunca finished Tuesday's 87-76 win over Campbell with four points (1-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one block in 25 minutes.

Impact Tunca only scored four points on five shots, and a few rough shooting nights from the Nittany Lions contributed to a narrower victory over Campbell than some in Happy Valley may have liked. Still, he was able to contribute in other ways on the glass and as a passer, somewhat salvaging his performance. Tunca has double-digit points in all but two games this season -- this looks like an outlier, at least from a scoring perspective.

DECEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Penn State take on Campbell in non-conference action

Penn State faces Campbell in non-conference play

DECEMBER 2, 2025 • Associated Press

Penn State routs Sacred Heart 90-59

Penn State has cruised past Sacred Heart with a 90-59 victory on Saturday night

NOVEMBER 30, 2025 • Associated Press

Vaaks, Providence lead all of second half and beat Penn State 77-65

Stefan Vaaks scored 15 points, Jason Edwards scored 14 and Providence took control in the second half to beat Penn State 77-65 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase

NOVEMBER 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Penn State faces Providence

The Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Providence Friars at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut

NOVEMBER 21, 2025 • Associated Press

Mingo scores career-high 24 points, helps Penn State hold off Harvard 84-80

Freshman Kayden Mingo scores a career-high 24 points, leading Penn State to an 84-80 victory over Harvard on Wednesday night

NOVEMBER 20, 2025 • Associated Press

Tunca leads Penn State against Harvard after 20-point showing

Penn State takes on the Harvard Crimson after Melih Tunca scored 20 points in Penn State's 83-69 win over the La Salle Explorers

NOVEMBER 19, 2025 • Associated Press

Tunca leads Penn State against Harvard after 20-point performance

Penn State hosts the Harvard Crimson after Melih Tunca scored 20 points in Penn State's 83-69 win over the La Salle Explorers

NOVEMBER 18, 2025 • Associated Press

Deadspin | Melih Tunca powers Penn State over La Salle Deadspin | Melih Tunca powers Penn State over La Salle

NOVEMBER 16, 2025 • DEADSPIN.COM

Tunca's near-perfect shooting leads Penn State offensive wave in 83-69 win over La Salle

Melih Tunca scored 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and Penn State beat La Salle 83-69

NOVEMBER 15, 2025 • Associated Press

Freddie Dilione V scores 19 points off the bench and Penn State holds off Navy 80-71

Freddie Dilione V scored 19 points off the bench, freshman Kayden Mingo added 16 and Penn State held off Navy 80-71

NOVEMBER 12, 2025 • Associated Press

Newcomers lead Penn State into visit with New Haven Penn State likely will lean on its newcomers Saturday afternoon when they take on Division I newcomer New Haven in West Haven, Conn.Melih Tu...

NOVEMBER 8, 2025 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Top scorer in win Tunca amassed 19 points (7-11 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), four rebounds, six assists and two steals in 31 minutes during Monday's 76-68 win over Fairfield.

Impact Tunca led the way for Penn State in what was a more narrow win over Fairfield than some in Happy Valley would've liked. Still, the Turkish freshman was impressively efficient, and displayed a well rounded game as he contributed as a scorer, facilitator and rebounder. He looks primed to be the focal point of the Nittany Lions in 2025-2026.

NOVEMBER 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Tunca's 19 points, Mingo's 15 push Penn State 76-68 past Fairfield

Melih Tunca scored 19 points and had six assists, and Kayden Mingo added 15 points to lead Penn State to a 75-68 win over Fairfield in a season opener for both teams on Monday nigh...

NOVEMBER 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Logs 19 points off bench Tunca (ankle) totaled 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals across 31 minutes during Monday's 76-68 victory over Fairfield.

Impact Tunca was questionable to play leading up to the season-opener as he dealt with an ankle injury but was able to put it past him. He will look to build on this strong performance for Saturday's meeting with New Haven.

NOVEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hopeful to play Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades says he's hopeful that Tunca (ankle) will be available for Monday's game against Fairfield, Will Horstman of The Daily Collegian reports.

Impact Tunca remains a game-time decision for the matchup, but this news makes it more likely he'll be able to suit up. The 6-foot-5 freshman signed with Penn State out of Turkey this offseason after a successful stint with the Turkish U20 team.

OCTOBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Battling ankle sprian Tunca is dealing with an ankle sprain with Penn State's opener just days out, per Will Hortman of PSUCollegian.com.

Impact Tunca signed with Penn State out of Turkey this offseason after a successful stint with the Turkish U20 team. However, his status for the opener against Fairfield on Nov. 3 is now in question as he battles an ankle sprain. Tunca was likely primed for a big role with the Nittany Lions, who may have to shake up their rotations early should he miss time.