Jan. 26, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 26, 2011 -
Jan. 26, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 26, 2011 - Penn State (11-8; 4-4 Big Ten) shook off some early sluggishness to pull away from Iowa (8-12; 1-7 Big Ten) shooting 58 percent in the second half to log a 65-51 victory Wednesday night on a snowy night in State College.
With a Jordan Center crowd thinned by snow falling since early afternoon, Penn State took a little while to get the gears turning but road the strong play of seniors Talor Battle, Jeff Brooks and Drew Jones to their third-straight Big Ten home win. Battle led the Lions posting 23 points for his 40th career 20-point or better outing and 10th of the season. Brooks came up one-point shy of a career high with 22 points on the night as he equaled a career-best four three-pointers and added three blocks. Jones nearly logged a double-double posting 10 rebounds and nine points.
Penn State shot 53 percent for the game, marking its third-straight Big Ten game hitting 50 percent or better from the floor and it's first time achieving that feat since 1999. The Lions won the rebounding battle for the fifth-straight game, this time to the tune of 30-21, and hit 10-of-11 at the foul line to bring its four-game hot streak at the line to 44-of-46.
Iowa was led by 11 points from Jarryd Cole and 10 from Matt Gatens, but after starting hot from the floor shot just 32 percent in the second half and 37 percent for the game.
Penn State trailed by as many as 11 in the first half and led by just one at the break, but used an 11-5 run to start the second period to seize control of the game. A Battle lay-up and a Brooks three got Penn State out of the gate. Jones added a jumper and a tip-in and Tim Frazier completed a driving three-point play to give Penn State a 40-33 lead.
Iowa got back within three, 42-39, following a Gatens three and a three-point play from Andrew Brommer, but Penn State got six-straight points from Battle on a 27-foot three and a three-point play to take a 48-39 lead.
Iowa got back as close as five, 50-45, when Roy Devyn Marble hit a three with 6:12 to play, but Brooks quickly shut down the threat hitting a jumper and his third three of the game for a 55-45 Penn State lead with 3:27 left.
Yet another Battle driving three-point play off an assist from Frazier kept the Lions lead at 10, 58-48, with 2:36 left and started a final run of eight-straight Penn State points as the Lions put the game away with Brooks' fourth three of the game that made it 63-48 with 1:35 left.
After a sluggish start and cold shooting for the first 15 minutes of action, Penn State closed the first half hitting its last five shots from the floor to produce a 12-3 run and take a 29-28 lead to the locker room.
Iowa built as much as an 11-point lead mid-way through the half, but the Lions held the Hawkeyes scoreless for the final 3:12 of the first 20 minutes to take control of the game. Penn State's late surge put them at 48 percent shooting in the first half while Iowa, which started hot, cooled to 42 percent. Battle and Brooks led Penn State with 10 points apiece while Bryce Cartwright had nine and Cole eight for the Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes used an early 6-1 run to take an 8-5 lead following a Cole bucket. Battle scored to get the Lions within one, but Penn State began missing from the floor and Iowa got hot mounting a 14-3 run to build a nine-point lead and force a Penn State timeout.
The Hawkeyes got baskets from Cole, Gatens, Eric May and Melsahn Basabe, the last giving Iowa a 16-7 lead and forcing Penn State coach Ed DeChellis to call a timeout. Penn State responded by breaking the Iowa press as Frazier fed Battle for an and-one lay-up.
The Hawkeyes answered with five-straight points getting a Cartwright three and a Brommer dunk off a steal to lead 21-10. Brooks then came alive hitting the first of two threes in the half. Penn State's Billy Oliver drew a charge on Zach McCabe and Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffrey drew a technical arguing the call. Battle hit both at the line to slice the Hawkeye lead to 21-15.
Jones followed with a bucket and Penn State had a 7-0 run to trail by just four, 21-17. Iowa answered with four straight points from Cole to rebuild an eight-point edge, 25-17, with 5:18 to play in the half.
Brooks continued to assert himself scoring eight of the Lions last 17 points in the half. His jumper made it 25-19 and he followed that with a three that made it 28-22 and marked the first of 10-straight Lion points to close the half.
Cammeron Woodyard got a short jumper. Battle took a kick-ahead up the floor and was fouled going to the bucket where he finished with a finger roll. He dropped the free throw to make it 28-27 Iowa. Frazier fed Jones cutting down the lane for a dunk and Penn State had its first lead since 5-4.
Penn State will return to the Jordan Center on Saturday to take on No. 15 Wisconsin on Coaches vs. Cancer Day at the BJC. All cancer survivors are invited to attend and use up to four free tickets for friends and family. Penn State will donate $3 from every ticket sold to Coaches Vs. Cancer and all fans in attendance are asked to don a "Band Together" headband to show the community's united fight against cancer. "Band Together" headbands will be available at all Jordan Center gates on game day. All proceeds from the $2 headbands will go directly to Coaches vs. Cancer. Penn State coaches, players, staff, chearleaders, band, dance team and everyone involved with the game will be wearing the headbands in a symbolic coming together to fight cancer.
Nittany Lion Basketball single-game tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 814-865-5555, visiting GoPSUsports.com or through Ticketmaster. Single-game tickets are $18 for the lower bowl and $15 for upper level tickets for adults. Youth tickets (18 and under) are $7 for the lower bowl and $5 for upper level seating, while Penn State student tickets (University Park or branch campus) are $5 for each of the 19 home contests.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Assistant Athletic Communications Director Brian Siegrist on Twitter (@PSUSTRETCH) and check GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatebasketball.
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