Feb. 24, 2009
Penn State Falls At Ohio State, 73-59 Cornley leads Lions with 11 points in last game in hometown
Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2009 - Penn State (19-9; 8-7 Big Ten) played 20 good minutes Tuesday in Columbus but sandwiched them between a rough start and finish and fell to Ohio State (18-8; 8-7 Big Ten), 73-59, to fall into a four-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes posted their 11th straight win over Penn State as the Lions suffered scoreless stretches of seven minutes in the first half to trail by 17 and five minutes in the second, but held as much as a five-point lead in between. Jamelle Cornley led Penn State with 11 points in his final game in his hometown of Columbus. Talor Battle had 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Stanley Pringle and Andrew Jones each added 10 as Penn State lost for the first time on the season when Cornley, Battle and Pringle score in double-figures.
Ohio State had four players in double-figures led by 14 points on 4-of-7 from three, three in the second half, from Jeremie Simmons. P.J. Hill and B.J. Mullens each had 13 and William Buford 11, all in the first half, as the Lions held Buckeye leading scorer Evan Turner to six points.
Ohio State shot 52 percent from the floor and 10-of-22 from three and won the rebounding battle 34-25. Penn State hit 43 percent and 10-of-26 from three. Both teams committed just six turnovers.
Penn State led by five, 44-39, mid-way through the second half after a Pringle three, but Ohio State put together an 11-0 run as the Lions played five scoreless minutes and the Buckeyes took a 59-49 lead with 4:50 to play. A Simmons three extended that lead to 12.
Penn State got off to a nearly disastrous start going 1-of-7 from the floor and scoring just two points through the opening 12 minutes of the game. Early turnovers and Buckeye blocked shots hampered the Lion offense as Ohio State jumped out to a 19-2 lead. Jon Diebler hit a three to start the game and his three with 13:00 to play forced a Penn State timeout.
A B.J. Mullens bucket made it 19-2 Ohio State with 12:08 to play as Penn State, after an early bucket from Cornley, played seven scoreless minutes.
However, when the Lions found their stride they broke into a sprint. A Cornley bucket broke the drought with 11:45 to play and began a 16-0 Nittany Lion run as Penn State hit seven-straight from the field. A Danny Morrissey three from the corner made it 19-7, then Babb hit the first of three big threes in the half to bring the Lions within nine, 19-10.
Talor Battle fed Drew Jones for a lay-up. Babb hit back-to-back threes and suddenly Penn State was down just one, 19-18, with 8:30 to play as Ohio State went four minutes without scoring.
A Buford three broke the Lion scoring run and the teams played close the rest of the half. A Cornley put-back gave Penn State its first lead, 23-22, with 7:08 to play.
A five-point Ohio State spurt in the final minute capped by a Jeremie Simmons three gave the Buckeyes a 32-30 lead at the half. Ohio State shot 50 percent in the half and 5-of-13 from three. Penn State heated up to 44 percent and hit 5-of-11 from the arc. Cornley and Babb led Penn State with nine points each while William Buford had 11 first half points.
Penn State will return to the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday for a "Senior Day" game vs. Indiana at 6:00 p.m. Fans are asked to wear white to the game. Penn State seniors Jamelle Cornley, Danny Morrissey, Stanley Pringle and Will Leiner will be honored. The Lions are 13-3 at home on the year and will look for a record 14th home win in the Jordan Center this season.
Nittany Lion basketball tickets can be purchased by calling the Penn State Ticket Office during regular business hours at 814-865-5555, visiting GoPSUsports.com or calling Tickmaster toll free at 800-745-3000.