Within the closing quarter-hour of regulation, the Penn State Nittany Lions erased a 14-point deficit and beat No. 12 Illinois by only one free throw down the stretch, 90-89.
It was Jameel Brown and Zach Hicks who wrestled the Nittany Lions from the double-digit gap, every contributing 11 second-half factors. Coming off the bench, Brown discovered his groove within the nick of time, sinking a trio of essential threes and three steals to steer momentum in Penn State’s course — his final theft with :30 on the clock arrange a Puff Johnson layup that introduced the Nittany Lions inside two (89-87).
📊 FINAL STATS: How Penn State pulled off the comeback
On the following possession, Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins didn’t convert each of his free throws, then he fouled Hicks on his means up for 3, portray the proper comeback image for Penn State. Roars from the white-out crowd rumbled as Hicks drained every of his three foul photographs for a one-point benefit with three seconds left. What occurs subsequent, nicely… You’ll be able to see the scenes within the Tweet under:
THE COURT STORMS KEEP COMING ⛈️ @PennStateMBB
(through @CBBonFOX)
pic.twitter.com/R0pgwV5WDG
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 22, 2024
Nick Kern was Penn State’s most prolific shooter, ending with a team-high 22 factors. Hicks was a driver in Penn State’s second-half comeback, ending the sport with 13 factors and eight boards.
Regardless of the loss, Illinois dominated the offensive and defensive glass, grabbing 49 whole rebounds to Penn State’s 25. Fifth-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. put up a career-high 35 factors — taking pictures 10-18 from the sector — and a season-best 11 boards to maintain the Combating Illini within the recreation. Illinois trailed by 9 factors early within the recreation, however went into halftime up 48-41. Crucial turnovers and missed photographs determined the sport.
This marks Penn State’s second ranked win this season. The Nittany Lions took down then-No. 11 Wisconsin in mid-January, 87-83, and at the moment are 13-14 on the season (7-9 Massive Ten). A middle-dweller in Massive Ten standings this 12 months, Penn State can use this Quad 1 win to garner some momentum simply three weeks earlier than the convention match. As for Illinois (19-7)… Wisconsin and Purdue loom within the subsequent two weeks, because the Illini should show the place they stack up.
Kaitlyn Schmidt is a post-graduate intern for NCAA Digital and is a 2023 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. She has earned distinctions as a Stembler Scholar, Furman Bisher Medal award winner and is a Hearst-nominated journalist; her print work has additionally appeared in The Day by day Tar Heel, UNC Media Hub and ACCSports.com. Specializing in basketball, soccer, discipline hockey and have items, Schmidt enjoys sharing the human aspect of sports activities, in addition to the newest developments within the NCAA.
