LINCOLN, Neb. – The Penn State men's basketball team relied on a career night from junior guard Myreon Jones for an 86-83 Big Ten road win at Nebraska (5-16, 1-13). Jones finished with 29 points on 8-18 shooting with six 3-pointers as the Nittany Lions (8-12, 5-11) picked up their third win in program history in Lincoln on Tuesday. The win was the first time in series history that either team had won two straight on the opponent's court.
"I just thought that was a really hard-fought, great win on the road for our guys," said Penn State men's basketball interim head coach Jim Ferry. "I'm caught up in the game, but it must have been an enjoyable game to watch. I thought both teams were flying up and down the court and making plays. It was really impressive for our guys, you know, we have been in a lot of close games that went the other way from a bounce here or there or missed shot, for our guys to keep staying, keep playing, keep believing in each other and making plays. Obviously, John Harrar was just tremendous tonight, Jamari Wheeler, I thought those seniors really willed us to victory today. Myreon Jones really got it going in the first half and late in the second half too."
Penn State withstood the top scoring performance in the Big Ten Conference as Nebraska's Teddy Allen scored 41 points on 16-24 shooting, with 28 of his 41 points in coming in the first half.
Senior guard Jamari Wheeler hit two clutch free throws with 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory after Jones made five from the line in the previous 41 seconds. After not attempting a free throw in the first half, the Nittany Lions made 15 of their 18 free throws in the final 12 minutes of play.
The Nittany Lions scored 25 points off 18 Huskers turnovers and outrebounded Nebraska 42-29, allowing only two rebounds on the offensive glass.
Penn State led by seven with 53 seconds left, but free throws and a couple of baskets by the Huskers in the final 21 seconds trimmed the PSU lead to one, 84-83, before Wheeler's final points from the line. Nebraska had a long 3-point attempt to tie the game in the final seconds, but it was off the mark and the Nittany Lions captured their three-point victory.
The Nittany Lions trailed by one with 14:57, 48-47, but a basket by junior guard Myles Dread started an 11-0 run that saw three-straight 3-pointers fall from Jones, Wheeler and Dread. Penn State's lead ballooned up to 10, 58-48, at the 12:39 mark, but Allen scored eight of the Huskers' next 12 points to pull within three, 62-59.
Treys by Dread and free throws by Harrar kept Penn State ahead after back-to-back 3-pointers by Thorir Thorbjarnarson clipped the lead to three. Trey McGowens tied the game at 70 with 6:20 to play before Wheeler connected on a critical 3-pointer for a 73-30 lead. The Nittany Lions maintained their lead until the end even when the Huskers trimmed their deficit to one inside the final 21 seconds.
Five Nittany Lions scored in double figures with Jones contributing six to Penn State's 14 3-pointers, its season-high to date. Dread finished with a season-best 16 points, Wheeler scored 13 points, Izaiah Brockington added 11 and John Harrar finished with his fifth career double-double (10 points, 14 rebounds). Harrar tied his career best on the boards and had the game-high total for the 12th time this season.
Jones had the hot hand with five triples in the opening half, three in the game's first three minutes. Allen offset the Nittany Lions' scoring with 28 first-half points on 11-14 shooting. His 41-point total set the Penn State opponent record for scoring in a Big Ten contest.
Penn State grabbed eight offensive rebounds and capitalized with eight second-chance points. Penn State limited Nebraska's chances and did not allow for a Huskers offensive rebound in the first half.
The Nittany Lions combatted Allen's furious scoring effort by knocking down seven 3-pointers in the first half and recorded eight steals that led to 14 points.
Purdue visits the Bryce Jordan Center Friday, Feb. 26 for the second meeting of the season. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start time with the broadcast on FS1.
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