MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Penn State junior forward Lamar Stevens scored a game-high 27 points, but the Nittany Lions' final field goal attempt wouldn't fall in the final seconds in a 65-64 loss at Minnesota Saturday night. The Golden Gophers broke the fifth tie of the game, at 64-64, with a free throw by Dupree McBrayer with 2.7 seconds left to play.
Redshirt junior Mike Watkins had 10 points and nine rebounds as the only other Nittany Lion to score in double figures. Minnesota's Jordan Murphy had 19 points and a game-high 21 rebounds to lead the Golden Gophers (14-4, 4-3).
"I thought we deserved to win this game," said Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers. "We played well enough to win this game on the road. I think free throws, again, were our Achilles heel. (That) really hurt us. We have to keep working on free throws…We haven't had a complete game…I think we're the best 0-8 team in the country. I really do. We're in every, every game. I love my guys, they competed, they really tried and we'll get better."
The Nittany Lions shot just over 50 percent from the free throw line in the second half and Minnesota capitalized with 16 points off Penn State's 12 turnovers. Both teams had only four turnovers each in the second period, but the Golden Gophers converted those miscues for six points and had a 9-2 advantage in second-chance scoring opportunities in that period as well.
Both teams struggled in their shooting from the field for critical minutes in the second half. Minnesota went without a basket for nearly seven minutes, but had five points from the free throw line after taking a three-point lead, 56-63, with 7:34 left in the game. The Nittany Lions didn't score for three minutes after a Kyle McCloskey 3-point field goal as the Golden Gophers took a 52-51 lead and then extended it to seven, 61-54.
A layup by Stevens and 3-pointer from freshman guard Myles Dread brought Penn State within two, 61-59. Stevens' free throws with 3:29 left in the game tied it up at 61 and he would score with 11.1 seconds left and add the "and one" to knot the game at 64.
Penn State (7-12, 0-8) had its best first-half shooting percentage in Big Ten play at 55.6 percent and led at the break 38-30. The Nittany Lions capitalized on that shooting percentage and had a 20-10 lead after a Stevens 3-pointer from the top of the arc.
Minnesota, however, battled back, cutting the deficit to just one, 26-25 before freshman guard Myreon Jones scored five-straight points and sophomore forward Trent Buttrick had a putback to put the NIttany Lions back up by seven, 35-28. Stevens closed the half for Penn State with 17, connecting for a triple.
Senior guard Josh Reaves scored seven points and had four assists and three steals. With his three steals, he now has sole possession of the No. 3 spot on Penn State's career steals list and the No. 9 spot on the Big Ten career steals list.
Jordan Murphy led four Golden Gophers in double figures with 19 points and had game-highs in rebounds with 21 rebounds and assists with six.
The Nittany Lions return home Saturday, Jan. 26 vs. Rutgers for the annual THON game. Tipoff is at 4:30 p.m. All proceeds from student single-game tickets for this game will benefit THON 2019 as thousands of Penn State students – from all campuses -- will serve as dancers and volunteers to raise funds and awareness in the fight to conquer childhood cancer. The first 2,000 students in attendance will receive "Dance with Us" T-shirts.
For information or to purchase Penn State men's single-game tickets, visit GoPSUsports.com/mbbsinglegametix or call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Keep up to date with the latest information from Coach Chambers and the Nittany Lions on Twitter by following @Coach_Chambers and @PennStateMBB, on Facebook and Instagram at @PennStateMBB.
