Penn State Men’s Basketball Falls in Another Close Contest

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.- After a whole host of issues off of the court, Penn State lost its second straight game by a combined total of three points.

The Nittany Lions were defeated by the Michigan Wolverines 58-57 at the Bryce Jordan Center after leading by as many as 11 in the first half. The visitors did not shoot incredibly efficiently, but they made the buckets that counted when it mattered most.

The game was back and forth to begin, but after a Michigan timeout with 9:41 in the first half, the Nittany Lions scored seven straight points that was a part of a larger 11-0 run to go up by eight. 

Jevonnie Scott played several minutes early in the first half, his first minutes since he logged three on January 26th at Indiana.

Hunter Dickinson and Eli Brooks combined for 20 of Michigan’s 23 points before the Wolverines went on a 11-0 run of their own to end the half tied at 34 apiece.

The second half started slow for both teams as the first basket did not come until 3:08 in the second half when DeVante’ Jones broke the seal for the Maize and Blue. He would finish with seven points in the contest where the star was Sophomore Forward Hunter Dickinson. He led all playmakers with 19 points and an additional 15 rebounds.

Jalen Pickett was the standout player for the Nittany Lions as he played all 40 minutes of the game while contributing 14 points.

The contest was tied at 48 with 3:37 left to play following two John Harrar made free throws, but a series of misses down the stretch combined with Eli Brooks and Hunter Dickinson once again taking over is what sealed the deal for the Wolverines.

After the game, Penn State Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry took responsibility for the loss. 

“I told our guys in the locker room I apologize to them, because I have to be better,” Shewsberry said. “I have to keep my composure, I have to coach these guys and I didn’t help them tonight.”

Michigan Head Coach Juwan Howard credited his halftime adjustments as the reason for the win. 

“I talked about at halftime that it’s too easy,” Howard said. “Everything they’re getting is too easy. You know we have to make them work for every bucket…our activity, energy and communication was very solid in the second half.”

Penn State will look to end their two-game losing streak on Saturday, February 12 at 8:30 p.m. in Minnesota.

Feature Image By: Michael de Botton