INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -
Take a look back through the running blog from
Penn State's 75-58 setback to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday
afternoon.
Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com gameday blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.
Today, 12th-seeded Penn State (12-19, 4-14) is inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for its Big Ten Tournament first round matchup against fifth-seeded Indiana (24-7, 11-7). The Nittany Lions advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game last season, while the Hoosiers are seeking their first Big Ten Tourney win since 2006. This marks the third time in four seasons that Penn State and Indiana have met in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The stakes are clear in the postseason. It is win or go home for the Nittany Lions. Penn State played IU very close in three of the four halves this season. Defending the perimeter with better team defense will be crucial for the Nittany Lions when the game tips off this afternoon. Additionally, Penn State needs to come out hot from the opening tip forward.
Follow along here on the in-game blog for updates throughout Thursday's Big Ten Tournament clash with Indiana.
Starting Lineups
Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Lewis, G - Marshall, F - Travis, F - Graham
Indiana: G - Hulls, G - Oladipo, G - Sheehey, F - Watford, F - Zeller
First Half:
14:48 - Indiana 9, Penn State 6
Thanks to six points from leading scorer Cody Zeller, Indiana leads by three at the first media timeout. Jordan Hulls broke a 6-6 tie with a 3-pointer in transition. For the Nittany Lions, Tim Frazier has both baskets (threes) in the first four minutes. The tempo has been very fast in the opening minutes. Neither team has shot particularly well in the first stretch of action.
11:17 - Indiana 16, Penn State 13
Hulls has scored the last 10 points for the Hoosiers, but Penn State is within three following a driving left-handed lay-in from Frazier. The Nittany Lions are 4-for-11 from the field, but they are battling thanks to great effort on the glass and eight tallies from Frazier. Again, Penn State must guard the perimeter to put itself in a position to win.
7:30 - Indiana 22, Penn State 19
The Nittany Lions continue to battle possession after possession on the defensive end of the floor in the first half. Frazier has scored 12 points for the Lions, but it has been the defensive effort in the opening 12:30 that has the Lions within three on the scoreboard. All of Indiana's points have come from Hulls and Zeller. Penn State is doing all of the little things right in the first half. It needs to stay aggressive on offense.
3:24 - Indiana 31, Penn State 24
A big 3-pointer from Frazier halted a 9-0 scoring run from Indiana. Two free throws from Zeller handed IU its largest lead of the first half at 10 before Frazier's triple. Indiana is making a living at the foul line in the latter stages of the first half, shooting 9-for-9. Nonetheless, the margin is just seven with 3:24 to play. It is a crucial span for the Nittany Lions until halftime.
0:00 - Indiana 38, Penn State 32
The Nittany Lions weathered a 9-0 surge from the Hoosiers, and head into the locker room down just six points. Penn State led just once (3-2), but the Lions are well within striking distance after a good half. Frazier was tremendous in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 19 of Penn State's 32 points. The Hoosiers were led by 13 from Hulls and 12 from Zeller. IU leads the conference in shooting percentage, but the Penn State defense held the Hoosiers to just 37 percent shooting. The big difference came at the foul line, with Indiana shooting 13-for-15 from the charity stripe compared to Penn State's 6-for-7 shooting effort at the foul line. Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions are competing on every possession. The first four minutes of the second half are critical for Penn State.
Second Half:
15:21 - Indiana 47, Penn State 34
Watford scored the first basket of the second half, but Jon Graham answered with a post move to keep the margin at six (40-34). However, a 7-0 run from Indiana, including another 3-pointer from Hulls, has set the score at 47-34. Penn State must do a better job on the glass. Indiana already has three offensive boards in the second half.
11:58 - Indiana 54, Penn State 36
The Nittany Lions started the second half 2-for-10 from the field before an offensive put-back from Travis. During that span, Indiana rattled off 14-straight points to build a 20-point cushion in front of large contingent of Hoosier fans. Penn State will continue to compete down the stretch, but Indiana has a lot of offensive weapons every time down the floor. The Lions need to rotate better on defense down the stretch.
7:49 - Indiana 61, Penn State 43
The Nittany Lions are ice cold in the second half, shooting just 3-for-19 from the field. Frazier has two free throws in the half, but he has been held without a basket. Penn State trimmed the IU lead down to 13 points (54-41), but Indiana came right back with five unanswered to push the lead back to 18. Indiana has attempted 26 free throws to Penn State's 12.
0:00 - Indiana 75, Penn State 58
The Nittany Lions closed to within 14 on two different occasions in the final 4:37, but that would be as close as Penn State would get down the stretch. Frazier led the way with 26 points, but was limited to just seven in the second half. Freshman Trey Lewis knocked down a trio of 3-pointers on his way to an 11-point effort. Jermaine Marshall tallied nine points. Penn State shot just 19-55 for the game (34.5 percent). Hulls and Zeller led the Hoosiers with 20 and 19, respectively.
Final Thoughts:
The Nittany Lions battled from start to finish inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday afternoon, but Indiana's aggressive play in the paint and rebounding edge proved to be too much. The Hoosiers pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and 45 boards overall, while the Lions tallied 29 rebounds. Indiana also attempted 36 free throws to Penn State's 16.
Nonetheless, the Lions were down just six in the opening minutes of the second half (40-34). However, the scoring went dry, and IU mounted a 14-0 run to take control of the ballgame. The Lions started the second half just 3-for-19. Against a team like Indiana, it is tough to overcome a cold shooting half. Additionally, the Hoosiers did a nice job keeping Frazier out of the paint in the second half.
With the setback, the Nittany Lions finish the season 12-20. Head coach Patrick Chambers laid the foundation for what will be a very bright future for the program. Everyone in the locker room wanted to win more than 12 games in 2011-'12, but the attitude, effort and improvement from November was visibly evident at the end of the year. The individual growth will continue in the offseason, and the Nittany Lions will add some new pieces to roster. Coach Chambers said during the postgame press conference that he cannot until tomorrow when he starts working towards the future.
Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com gameday blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.
Today, 12th-seeded Penn State (12-19, 4-14) is inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for its Big Ten Tournament first round matchup against fifth-seeded Indiana (24-7, 11-7). The Nittany Lions advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game last season, while the Hoosiers are seeking their first Big Ten Tourney win since 2006. This marks the third time in four seasons that Penn State and Indiana have met in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The stakes are clear in the postseason. It is win or go home for the Nittany Lions. Penn State played IU very close in three of the four halves this season. Defending the perimeter with better team defense will be crucial for the Nittany Lions when the game tips off this afternoon. Additionally, Penn State needs to come out hot from the opening tip forward.
Follow along here on the in-game blog for updates throughout Thursday's Big Ten Tournament clash with Indiana.
Starting Lineups
Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Lewis, G - Marshall, F - Travis, F - Graham
Indiana: G - Hulls, G - Oladipo, G - Sheehey, F - Watford, F - Zeller
First Half:
14:48 - Indiana 9, Penn State 6
Thanks to six points from leading scorer Cody Zeller, Indiana leads by three at the first media timeout. Jordan Hulls broke a 6-6 tie with a 3-pointer in transition. For the Nittany Lions, Tim Frazier has both baskets (threes) in the first four minutes. The tempo has been very fast in the opening minutes. Neither team has shot particularly well in the first stretch of action.
11:17 - Indiana 16, Penn State 13
Hulls has scored the last 10 points for the Hoosiers, but Penn State is within three following a driving left-handed lay-in from Frazier. The Nittany Lions are 4-for-11 from the field, but they are battling thanks to great effort on the glass and eight tallies from Frazier. Again, Penn State must guard the perimeter to put itself in a position to win.
7:30 - Indiana 22, Penn State 19
The Nittany Lions continue to battle possession after possession on the defensive end of the floor in the first half. Frazier has scored 12 points for the Lions, but it has been the defensive effort in the opening 12:30 that has the Lions within three on the scoreboard. All of Indiana's points have come from Hulls and Zeller. Penn State is doing all of the little things right in the first half. It needs to stay aggressive on offense.
3:24 - Indiana 31, Penn State 24
A big 3-pointer from Frazier halted a 9-0 scoring run from Indiana. Two free throws from Zeller handed IU its largest lead of the first half at 10 before Frazier's triple. Indiana is making a living at the foul line in the latter stages of the first half, shooting 9-for-9. Nonetheless, the margin is just seven with 3:24 to play. It is a crucial span for the Nittany Lions until halftime.
0:00 - Indiana 38, Penn State 32
The Nittany Lions weathered a 9-0 surge from the Hoosiers, and head into the locker room down just six points. Penn State led just once (3-2), but the Lions are well within striking distance after a good half. Frazier was tremendous in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 19 of Penn State's 32 points. The Hoosiers were led by 13 from Hulls and 12 from Zeller. IU leads the conference in shooting percentage, but the Penn State defense held the Hoosiers to just 37 percent shooting. The big difference came at the foul line, with Indiana shooting 13-for-15 from the charity stripe compared to Penn State's 6-for-7 shooting effort at the foul line. Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions are competing on every possession. The first four minutes of the second half are critical for Penn State.
Second Half:
15:21 - Indiana 47, Penn State 34
Watford scored the first basket of the second half, but Jon Graham answered with a post move to keep the margin at six (40-34). However, a 7-0 run from Indiana, including another 3-pointer from Hulls, has set the score at 47-34. Penn State must do a better job on the glass. Indiana already has three offensive boards in the second half.
11:58 - Indiana 54, Penn State 36
The Nittany Lions started the second half 2-for-10 from the field before an offensive put-back from Travis. During that span, Indiana rattled off 14-straight points to build a 20-point cushion in front of large contingent of Hoosier fans. Penn State will continue to compete down the stretch, but Indiana has a lot of offensive weapons every time down the floor. The Lions need to rotate better on defense down the stretch.
7:49 - Indiana 61, Penn State 43
The Nittany Lions are ice cold in the second half, shooting just 3-for-19 from the field. Frazier has two free throws in the half, but he has been held without a basket. Penn State trimmed the IU lead down to 13 points (54-41), but Indiana came right back with five unanswered to push the lead back to 18. Indiana has attempted 26 free throws to Penn State's 12.
0:00 - Indiana 75, Penn State 58
The Nittany Lions closed to within 14 on two different occasions in the final 4:37, but that would be as close as Penn State would get down the stretch. Frazier led the way with 26 points, but was limited to just seven in the second half. Freshman Trey Lewis knocked down a trio of 3-pointers on his way to an 11-point effort. Jermaine Marshall tallied nine points. Penn State shot just 19-55 for the game (34.5 percent). Hulls and Zeller led the Hoosiers with 20 and 19, respectively.
Final Thoughts:
The Nittany Lions battled from start to finish inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday afternoon, but Indiana's aggressive play in the paint and rebounding edge proved to be too much. The Hoosiers pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and 45 boards overall, while the Lions tallied 29 rebounds. Indiana also attempted 36 free throws to Penn State's 16.
Nonetheless, the Lions were down just six in the opening minutes of the second half (40-34). However, the scoring went dry, and IU mounted a 14-0 run to take control of the ballgame. The Lions started the second half just 3-for-19. Against a team like Indiana, it is tough to overcome a cold shooting half. Additionally, the Hoosiers did a nice job keeping Frazier out of the paint in the second half.
With the setback, the Nittany Lions finish the season 12-20. Head coach Patrick Chambers laid the foundation for what will be a very bright future for the program. Everyone in the locker room wanted to win more than 12 games in 2011-'12, but the attitude, effort and improvement from November was visibly evident at the end of the year. The individual growth will continue in the offseason, and the Nittany Lions will add some new pieces to roster. Coach Chambers said during the postgame press conference that he cannot until tomorrow when he starts working towards the future.
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