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The Nittany Lions survived icy foul shooting
and Illinois scrapped for scores until the final buzzer only to
see Penn State
Penn State created enough distance to survive with a 14-3 run
late in the second half.
After Coleman Hawkins picked up a scramble loose ball for a
Fighting Illini layup with 22 seconds left, Penn State made one
of two free throws for a 76-70 lead. Guard Terrence Shannon
missed the first of two free throws at the other end for
Illinois with 15.8 seconds left, making it a two-possession
game. Shannon's 3 try after Penn State split another pair of
free throws drew back iron, dashing faint hopes of extending the
game.
Penn State was 13 of 22 from the free-throw line, and Jalen
Pickett, who erupted for 41 points against Illinois in their
Feb. 14 matchup, was limited to 12 points but had eight rebounds
and eight assists. Pickett had only three points in the first
half but Penn State built a lead as big as 10 points.
Andrew Funk made six 3-pointers and led the Nittany Lions with
20 points. Camren Wynter had 18 points and five rebounds, and
Seth Lundy added 17 points and 10 boards.
Shannon led Illinois with 19 points. Hawkins was 8 of 14 from
the field and had 17 points, adding five rebounds, four assists
and two blocks. Sophomore big man Dain Dainja contributed 13
points and seven rebounds.
Illinois found success attacking inside in the first half, but
couldn't string together defensive stops.
The Nittany Lions are facing Northwestern in Chicagoland for the
second time in nine days. Penn State knocked off the
second-seeded Wildcats on Wynter's last-second 3-pointer in
overtime on March 1 in Evanston.
--Field Level Media
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