March 5, 2008
Madison, Wisc., March 5, 2008 - An undermanned Penn State team (14-15; 6-11 Big Ten) walked into a buzz saw Wednesday night in Madison as Wisconsin (25-4; 15-2 Big Ten) celebrated "Senior Night" and clinched at least a tie for the Big Ten Championship with a 77-41 victory in front of 17,190 rabid red-clad fans.
Penn State entered the game without its top two players as standout Geary Claxton saw his season ended with an ACL tear in the first meeting with the Badgers in the Jordan Center in January and junior Jamelle Cornley did not make the trip as he nursed a severely bruised left knee that has given him problems all season long back in State College.
Cornley is expected to return Sunday as Penn State has its sights set on posting its most Big Ten wins in five seasons under coach Ed DeChellis and continuing a string of four straight Big Ten home wins, its longest since 1996, in its last regular season game in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Nittany Lions will take on No. 17 Indiana in a 2:00 p.m. tip live on ESPN. It will be a battle of two of the Big Ten's top freshman in Nittany Lion Talor Battle and Hoosier Eric Gordon. The pair combined for 45 points in the first meeting in Bloomington this season. It is a 4 for $40 game with fans able to get four tickets, four drinks and four hot dogs for $40.
The Badgers, winners of six straight and now 54 of 57 Big Ten games in the Kohl Center under coach Bo Ryan, honored four seniors on the night and entered the game following Purdue's loss at Ohio State on Tuesday needing just one win to clinch a share of their third conference title under Ryan. They got it behind 15 points from Marcus Landry and 12 from Brian Butch as they shot 53 percent from the floor and were honored on the Kohl Center floor following the game.
Penn State fell for the 12th time in 14 trips to Madison and for the eighth time overall to the Badgers. Battle scored 10 points to lead Penn State and post his 11th double-digit scoring game in the Big Ten and seventh leading the Lions in scoring. Jeff Brooks added eight as did Stanley Pringle.
Penn State started five newcomers on Wednesday as four freshmen (Battle, Jeff Brooks, David Jackson and Andrew Jones) took the floor with junior college transfer Stanley Pringle. Undersized, the Lions lost the rebounding battle 39-25 and posted season lows in points, field goal percentage (29.6 %) and free throw attempts (3-4).
Penn State trailed 34-17 at the half as the Badgers opened up their biggest lead of the half in the final seconds. Penn State struggled from the field shooting just 25 percent and trailed the rebounding battle 20-12. Stanley Pringle led the way with five points for the Lions. Wisconsin shot 44 percent in the half and was led by Marcus Landry's seven points. The 17 first half points matched Penn State's lowest scoring half on the season equaling a 17 point half at Iowa earlier on the year.
Penn State hung with the Badgers early trailing just 14-10 with 13:17 to play after a Brooks three pointer. Penn State went cold from the field after that though and the Badgers pulled away. They led 20-12 at the 7:30 media timeout following three free throws from senior Brian Butch. Penn State suffered through a five minute scoring drought and the Badgers took a 27-12 lead following a Michael Flowers three.
Penn State got back within 10 when Pringle reeled off five straight points including a three with 3:55 to play, the Lions' last points of the half.
Jason Bohannon hit a three for Wisconsin and Joe Krabbenhoft had a pair of free throws for the final margin of the half. Penn State had two chances to score on the last possession, but failed to convert and went to the locker room trailing by 17. Wisconsin went on a 14-3 run to start the second half and open up a 28-point lead, 48-20, with 14:38 to play. It was all Wisconsin from there as the Badgers cleared their bench in the late minutes and honored their seniors.