Jan. 13, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.; JAN. 13, 2013 - Penn State couldn't overcome its worst shooting game of the season and fell, 60-42, Sunday to Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. The Nittany Lions (8-8; 0-4 Big Ten) will return to the Bryce Jordan Center on Wednesday to complete a run of three games in seven days when they take on No. 18 Michigan State in a 7:00 p.m. tip on the Big Ten Network.
Penn State shot just 25.9 percent for the game and 3-of-12 from three as the Lions scored a season low 42 points. Freshman Brandon Taylor led the way posting 11 points, all in the first half, on 3-of-7 from three and a career high 14 field goal attempts. Leading scorer D.J. Newbill finished with nine points, but was scoreless until hitting a basket with 7:19 to play. Ross Travis added eight rebounds and five points and Sasa Borovnjak a career high four steals to go with five points. The Lions' leading scorers, Newbill and Jermaine Marshall, combined to shoot 6-of-25. Marshall finished with eight points.
Despite the offensive woes, Penn State was right in the game trailing by just six, 32-26, with 14:30 to play following a Ross Travis jumper. Purdue shot 54 percent in the first half, but was unable to pull away from a scrappy Penn State team that was down eight at the half, 30-22, after Taylor hit a 55-foot three at the halftime buzzer.
The Boilermakers had four players reach double-figure scoring led by 13 points from Ronnie Johnson and 12 points and 10 rebounds from 7-0 center A.J. Hammons who also blocked five shots and affected many more. Purdue shot 45 percent for the game and was just 10-of-21 from the foul line, but got 32 points in the paint and turned 14 Penn State turnovers into 19 points.
After the teams combined to open the second half 4-of-23 from the floor and Penn State continued to hang around within striking distance, the Boilermakers used a 17-2 run to take a commanding 49-30 lead with 7:36 to play. A pair of D.J. Byrd threes helped spark the run. Penn State never threatened again.
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