Feb. 8, 2009
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., Feb. 8, 2009 - With the largest crowd in eight seasons on hand and ready to explode, Penn State could not get its offense on track going 0-14 from three and falling 54-44 to Wisconsin Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center.
A crowd of 14,686, most decked out in white, tried to rally the Nittany Lions and waited for a game changing run that never came as Wisconsin held the Lions to 37 percent shooting and scored just enough itself to improve to 14-9 (5-6 Big Ten) on the year and post its 10th straight win in the series.
Penn State failed to make a three for the first time since shooting 0-of-14 from the arc at Penn in 2002 and saw standout guards Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle post a combined 8-of-25 from the floor. Pringle led the Lions with 11 points and Battle got 10, while Andrew Jones continued his strong play in conference with nine points. The largest Jordan Center crowd since 15,377 saw the Lions take on Michigan State on Feb. 24, 2001 saw the Nittany Lions lose for just the second time in its last 11 Big Ten home games and fall to 17-7 (6-5 Big Ten) on the year.
Penn State posted a season low in scoring for the second straight game and its 44 points marked the lowest scoring out-put since falling 77-41 at Wisconsin last season. Wisconsin, which shot 43 percent for the game and 47 in the second half, was led by 13 points from Marcus Landry, 12 from John Leuer and 10 from Joe Krabbenhoft. The Badgers won the rebounding battle 31-28 and both teams took care of the ball with the Badgers posting just six turnovers and the Lions seven.
"I don't think I've ever had a team go 0-14 from three," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. "We just didn't make any shots. This is the second game in a row now where we really, offensively, haven't been very good and didn't make any perimeter jump shots. We've been a pretty consistent shooting team and had a couple shots, but we weren't close with them."
The Badger's jumped out to an early 8-4 lead as Penn State missed its first four shots. Penn State took a 14-12 lead after a 10-4 run. Jamelle Cornley had two baskets in the run and Battle's lay-up off a Cornley assist gave the Lions the lead.
After another 6-0 run, Penn State led 20-16 and a Battle block and lay-up had the Jordan Center crowd ready to hit high gear. But, Wisconsin responded quieting the arena with a 12-1 run to close out the half. Penn State did not make a field goal for the last 6:01 and Wisconsin took a 28-21 halftime lead on Leuer's jumper as time expired.
Penn State pulled within two, 34-32, with 12:58 to play as David Jackson buried a jumper and Jones swished a pair of free throws. Krabbenhoft got a lay-up on the other end to build the margin back to four. Penn State missed four shots to try to cut the lead before Battle pulled an offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back. He hit both at the line and Penn State trailed, 36-34, with 9:46 to play.
Penn State would get no closer. Wisconsin scored seven straight and took a nine-point lead, 43-34, on a Jason Bohannon three. Penn State scored four straight to get back to within five, 43-38, on a pair of Jackson free throws but a jumper by Trevon Hughes and a tough lay-up from Krabbenhoft put Wisconsin back up nine, 47-38, with 2:11 to play.
Penn State got lay-ups from Battle and Pringle, but Wisconsin answered each time and pushed its lead to 11 when Krabbenhoft hit four straight at the foul line.
Penn State will return to the road as they take on No. 12 Purdue in West Lafayette Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. The Boilermakers fell, 66-48, at No. 23 Illinois on Sunday playing without Pre-season Big Ten Player of the Year Robbie Hummel.