Nov. 28, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, PA., Nov. 28, 2008 - Off to its best start since the 1999-2000 season, the Nittany Lion basketball team struggled shooting and fell for the first time on the year, 77-72, to Rhode Island (5-1) in the Philly Hoop Group Classic at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa., Friday.
Jamelle Cornley (Columbus, Ohio) scored 23 points and grabbed four boards in 39 minutes to pace the Lions who shot just 37 percent in the first half and 41 percent for the game after scorching the nets on their way to a 5-0 start to the season. The Rams brought an athletic, long and tall team to the floor and it showed as 6-8 Kahiem Seawright, 6-8 Delroy James and 7-0 Will Martell altered Pen State shots in the paint.
Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) chipped in 15 points and a career high eight assists on the night, but was just 4-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-10 from three, part of a 7-of-25 Penn State effort from three. The outsized Lions did win the rebounding battle, 40-32, and committed just 10 turnovers, but many were unforced and came at times when Penn State had a chance to seize momentum.
Three-point ace Jimmy Baron had 20 points to pace the Rams, shooting 4-of-6 from three, nearly all from the 22 to 23-foot range. Keith Cothran added 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and Seawright had 16 points and eight boards, dueling the 6-5 Cornley all night in the paint. Seawright's free throw shooting was particularly big late as he hit 6-of-6 on the night and Rhode Island shot 18-of-22 (82%) from the stripe. The Rams also hit 48 percent from the floor, including 52 percent in the second half.
Penn State had an early 8-7 lead after Battle fed a cutting Andrew Jones who finished with a two handed jam down the lane. Both teams shot well through the early minutes and the game was tied, 11-11, going into the first media timeout following a Battle 22-foot three.
Rhode Island took a 13-11 lead on a Seawright jumper at 14:29 and would not trail the rest of the way. Penn State kept it close as the teams exchanged buckets and trailed by one, 19-18, following a Morrissey three with 9:39 to play in the half. But, the Lions squandered chances to take the lead or cut the margin throughout the game either committing an untimely turnover or not getting a good look on the offensive end. Rhode Island took advantage. The Rams built a nine-point lead with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes, culminating in a deep Baron three that gave the Rams a 29-20 edge with 7:02 left in the half.
Penn State clawed back using a Cornley lay-up and a Jackson lay-up, both off nice assists from Jeff Brooks, to cut the lead to five, 29-24. Following an exchange of buckets, Battle hit a big three to get the Lions within two and Cornley followed after a Ram miss with a nice jumper off a Pringle assist to tie the game at 31. However, the Lions missed three chances to take the lead in the final seconds of the half and Cothran buried a late jumper to give the Rams a 33-31 halftime lead.
Penn State had two chances to tie or take the lead to start the second half, but missed a pair of threes and Rhode Island built the lead back to five on a Cothran three.
The teams exchanged baskets over the next six minutes until Jeff Brooks hit a three off an in-bounds to cut the lead to one, 47-46, with 13:16 to play. However, the Lions would go scoreless over the next four minutes, missing three, three-point attempts and failing to capitalize on a good defensive effort on the other end. Rhode Island scored six-straight and built the lead back to seven, 53-46, with 9:34 to play.
Penn State cut it to five on a Cornley bucket, but then saw a Baron bomb from three and a lay-up from Marquis Jones put them down 10, 60-50, with 5:53 to play and force a Nittany Lion timeout.
The Lions didn't lie down. Pringle hit a three out of the timeout and Morrissey one a minute later and the lead was back to five.
Penn State continued to score on the offensive end, but couldn't get the defensive stops to cut the margin as the clock ticked down. Trailing by six, 71-56, with 44 seconds left, the Lions mounted their last charge. First Morrissey drew the defense and dished to Jackson for a dunk. Jackson fouled immediately and James made one of two for the Rams. Battle missed a jumper, but Brooks batted the ball of a Ram leg and Penn State kept possession, capitalizing when Battle drained a three to cut the lead to two, 72-70, with 21 seconds remaining.
Battle fouled immediately and sent Jones to the line. He hit one of two and the door was open. Penn State pushed the ball quickly up the floor. Battle drove, drew the defense and then found a wide-open Cornley for a lay-up and Rhode Island led, 73-72, with 13 seconds remaining.
Morrissey put Baron on the line and the senior drained a pair. Penn State had one last gasp as Pringle fired a game-tying attempt from 21 feet, but it missed the target and Seawright pulled down the board.
The Nittany Lions will wait to see the winner of Friday night's late game between Villanova and Towson to determine their Saturday opponent. Penn State will face the loser of that game at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised on CN8 and can be heard live on the Penn State Sports Network.