The All-Big Ten basketball teams were announced Monday, and Penn State’s late-season surge helped two key Nittany Lions win conference accolades. Junior forward Lamar Stevens was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the (coaches), while senior guard Josh Reaves was tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Defensive team.

Despite being the focal point of every opposing defense, Stevens was a model of consistency for Penn State as it won seven of its final 10 conference games to finish 10th in the standings and earn a first-round bye in this week’s Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. He scored at least 18 points in 12 straight games before netting 16 in Sunday’s blowout win over Illinois.

Stevens is second in the Big Ten in scoring (19.8 ppg) and eighth in rebounding (7.8 rpg). He also leads the conference in playing time (36.4 mpg) by two minutes per game. He is already the fifth-leading scorer in PSU history with 1,636 points.

Stevens was also a second-team All-Big Ten pick by the media.

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Earlier Monday, Penn State coach Pat Chambers said Stevens deserved first-team All-Conference notice. Why?

“Because of the value that he brings to this program, if that’s what we’re looking at,” Chambers said. “If you’re looking at talent, he absolutely belongs to be on the first team. But if you’re looking at value — take him off this team and we’re gonna struggle. And what he’s meant for this team and what he’s done for this team.

“He’s filled the stat sheet,” the coach added. “If he was just getting 19 (points) and five rebounds, all right, I get it. But that’s not what he’s doing. He’s doing a lot more than that. He’s scoring, he’s getting to the free-throw line, he’s rebounding the ball, he’s setting up his teammates when he gets doubled. He’s defending at a higher level. He’s defending one through five in certain defensive schemes that I throw out there. It’s really impressive what this kid has done.”

This marks only the eighth time a PSU player has won first-team All-Big Ten honors. Seven different Nittany Lions had done it previously, with Tony Carr being the last in 2017-18.

Reaves was inconsistent on offense throughout the season but was a force on defense. His 77 steals lead the league and are 27 more than second-place Geo Baker of Rutgers posted. He is six steals away from topping Ron Brown’s PSU career thefts record, which has stood since 1974. He played the best game of his career on Senior Day at the Jordan Center Sunday, torching the Illini for 26 pounds, 11 rebounds, four steals and two assists.

“This is the way you want all of your seniors to go out — having their best game and filling the stat sheet,” Chambers said. “You know we're going to talk about his 26 points. Just so you know, he had 11 rebounds. He had four steals. It's pretty amazing what this kid did. I couldn't be happier for him. To put this team on his shoulders and lead us to victory the way he did today in a critical game in order to get a bye.”

Reaves is only the second Nittany Lion to earn Defensive Player of the Year notice, following Calvin Booth (1998).

Penn State opens Big Ten Tournament play against No. 7 Minnesota Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern. The game can be seen on BTN.