Penn State nearly ruined Michigan’s undefeated season.
In a game where you knew the outcome before the game started, the goal was to see how long Penn State would hold on before the dam broke. As it turns out, the Nittany Lions lasted a half before Michigan’s talent was finally too much for the Lions.
The No. 2 team in the country, the Wolverines actually started slow in this one, with a few early miscues giving the Lions an opportunity to pick up an early lead. Early turnovers, an uncharacteristic lack of effort, and a likewise uncharacteristic Nittany Lion effort on the glass had Penn State up four by the first media timeout.
All good things must come to an end, however. By the 10-minute mark in the first half, Michigan finally took control of the game, and, after an all-too-familiar cold stretch by the Lions, a 6-point lead evaporated and quickly turned into a 5-point deficit.
Penn State would continue to fight for the rest of the half, but Michigan just kept pushing and pushing. The 5-point deficit turned into 7 by the U8 media timeout, and as the Lions continued to miss shots, the Wolverines started making them. They also stopped turning the ball over, which made life even harder for a team that had seven of its 17 points on Michigan turnovers.
After Michigan opened up a 10-point lead, Penn State was actually able to get it back to single digits before the half. In the second, however, Michigan finished what they started halfway through the first.
The pace picked right up in the second half, which favored the Lions as Michigan continued to turn the ball over, until they didn’t. The Lions, just like in the first half, used the pace to score quickly, but immediately followed it up by a cold stretch. After having cut the deficit down to six, Michigan ballooned the lead to 11, and, at that point, Penn State as staring at the abyss.
Holding on for dear life, Penn State cut the double digit deficit to single digits each time Michigan went up by double figures. When it looked like the Wolverines were about to put the Lions away for good, Penn State had one last run in them. Turning a 63-48 deficit into a 63-57 game, the Lions started to make Michigan sweat. The see saw now was the six-point wall. Every time Michigan took it over six, the Nittany Lions did something to get it under the number.
At the U4 media timeout, with Josh Reed at the foul line, Penn State’s last run cut it down to one. With two opportunities to win, however, the Lions simply couldn’t finish the job.
Players of the Game
Freddie Dilione V – 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Without Kayden Mingo today, Dilione picked up the slack. He ran the point for most of the game, picked up the defensive intensity, and was an overall positive influence on the team.
Ivan Jurić – 20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Jurić had a career night scoring, with 20 points on this one. In somewhat of a coming out party, and facing the task of being matched up against Andy Mara, Jurić more than held his own in this game.
Random Observations
Too fast – Michigan spent a good portion of the first half playing a pace more suited to the Lions. It led to several turnovers that kept Penn State in for the majority of the half.
Flop – I was not aware of Michigan’s game.
I’ll take it – Penn State was a 25.5-point underdog in this one. That Penn State had a shot to win it at the end is a minor miracle.
Looking Ahead
It doesn’t get any easier for Penn State, as the Lions now go on the road to face Purdue. Another 30-point loss may be in the cards. Watch it live on Sunday, January 10 at 2:00 PM Eastern on the Big Ten Network!
Category: General Sports
