COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State men's basketball team hung in there on the road at No. 16 Ohio State, but ultimately fell to the ranked Buckeyes, 61-56, Sunday afternoon at Value City Arena.
The Nittany Lion defense held Ohio State below its season scoring average of 75.6 as the Buckeyes shot just 39 percent, 17-of-44, from the field and 3-of-12 from beyond the arc in the contest.
Senior Sam Sessoms led Penn State in scoring with 15 points while senior Jalen Pickett added 11 with a game-high five assists.Big men Greg Lee and John Harrar each pulled down eight boards and finished with nine and seven points, respectively. Penn State was playing without its leading scorer Seth Lundy, who was unavailable for Sunday's game at Ohio State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Nittany Lions started off hot with a 6-0 lead just over two minutes in, including a 3-pointer by Lee. The defense held the Buckeyes to shoot 2-for-8 from the field in the first five minutes to take a 10-4 advantage into the first media timeout.
- Ohio State answered with a 15-3 run of its own to go on top, 19-13, at the under-8 timeout.
- The home team led by as much as nine with just under six minutes remaining, but the Nittany Lions clawed back and stayed within five going into the locker room for halftime thanks to solid defense as the Buckeyes were held to zero field goals in the final 5:52 of the opening term.
- Out of the break, Ohio State went up by double-digits, 32-22, but back-to-back baskets by Jalanni White and Sessoms got Penn State back within six at the under-16 media timeout.
- The Nittany Lions continued to hang in there, matching the Buckeyes with 18 points in the second half through the under-8 timeout, including back-to-back scores from beyond the arc by Dallion Johnson and Pickett to get back within five.
- Myles Dread then hit a three after an on-floor save by Sessoms to put Penn State even closer as Ohio State calls timeout up 51-47 with 3:50 remaining.
- Penn State continuously answered every Ohio State run and the Nittany Lions still hung within four in the final 10 seconds of the game, but the Buckeyes closed it out from the charity stripe for the 61-56 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Penn State's defense held Ohio State 14 points below its season scoring average of 75.6. It marks the ninth time in the last 12 games the Nittany Lions have held an opponent at least 10 points below their season scoring average.
- The Nittany Lions' 3-point defense allowed just three made Buckeye baskets from beyond the arc. Ohio State entered the game averaging 8.9 threes per game.
- Sam Sessoms recorded double digits for the second-straight game and 10th time this season.
- Jalen Pickett had his eighth consecutive game in double digits, dating back to the first matchup with Ohio State on Dec. 5. Pickett owns 11 games in double figures this season.
- Jevonnie Scott scored a season-best four points, all in the second half, in seven minutes in just his second game this season.
- Penn State was playing without its leading scorer Seth Lundy who was unavailable for Sunday's game at Ohio State.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry
UP NEXT
- Penn State returns home Wednesday night to host Minnesota at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. live on Big Ten Network.
The 2021-22 Penn State men's basketball season is presented by Highmark Health.