Penn State men’s basketball (7-10, 4-9 Big Ten) lost a brutal game to the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-12, 1-9 Big Ten) 62-61 Sunday afternoon at the BJC. It’s the first win in Big Ten play for the Cornhuskers, and is likely a dream-ending loss for the Nittany Lions.

Myreon Jones led the team with 18 points while Myles Dread added 14, mainly from three. John Harrar also added 10 rebounds in the loss.

How It Happened

Myreon Jones got the scoring started with a floater that rolled into the basket. Jamari Wheeler was able to force a steal on the next possession, but was unable to score.

Izaiah Brockington found the bottom of the net with a slick fadeaway shot. Myles Dread then hit a wide-open three immediately after. Nebraska struggled on both sides of the ball in the early part of the game.

Nebraska broke its scoreless streak with a three-pointer, but Jones responded with a three of his own. The Cornhuskers then hit another three, but Brockington kept the Nittany Lions ahead with a midrange shot.

Seth Lundy, who was taken out of the starting lineup for the game, got his afternoon started with a wide-open three. Nebraska scored back-to-back baskets in the paint before Sam Sessoms scored on a close fadeaway shot.

Coming out of a timeout, Lundy hit another three-point shot. Nebraska responded with a three-pointer on the next possession. The Cornhuskers held strong on defense, forcing the Nittany Lions to turn the ball over on a shot clock violation. They would then turn the ball over themselves on offense.

After a scoreless drought, Jones drove into the paint and hit a very pretty floater. However, Nebraska responded very quickly. After a defensive stop, the Cornhuskers had a wide-open slam dunk. Dread was able to hit a wide open three to extend the lead, however.

Nebraska hit a three coming out of the timeout, but Jones knocked one down as well. Then the Cornhuskers had their second wide open slam dunk of the game, and then they were able to steal the ball to tie the game. Suddenly, the momentum had drastically shifted to Nebraska’s favor.

Jones was able to retake the lead with a cutting layup in the paint. Out of a timeout, Brockington was able to get to the free throw line. He made both of the free throws.

A three point basket by the Cornhuskers cut the lead to one, and they took the lead on the next possession. Any momentum that the Nittany Lions may have had flipped to the Cornhuskers in the last three minutes of the half.

Dread hit a big three as the half came to a close, and John Harrar came up big defensively to prevent Nebraska from hitting a last second shot. The two teams went into half time tied at 35.

Nebraska got the scoring started with a made basket and a foul. It made the free throw, and on the next possession, the same exact thing that happened except it missed the free throw. Dread responded with a three to jumpstart Penn State.

The Cornhuskers then responded with a three pointer on the next offensive possession. To symbolize the how the half was going for Penn State, Brockington shot a basket where the ball got stuck in between the backboard and the rim.

Harrar got to the free throw line and made both free throws. He would then get back to the line and make both free throws again. Nebraska scored on another wide open dunk, but Brockington hit a midrange shot as a response.

Brockington had a massive alley-oop that resulted in a trip to the free throw line, where he made the free throw. But Nebraska hit a three on the next possession.

Lundy hit a floater coming out of a timeout, cutting Nebraska’s lead. The Nittany Lions then forced a turnover, but nothing was able to come from it. Nebraska kept scoring and Penn State kept missing.

After a long drought, Wheeler scored off of a steal. Harrar then got a quick basket. However, the Nittany Lions continued to miss shots coming out of a timeout.

Dread found his way to the free throw line and knocked down both free throws. The Nittany Lions were able to trim the lead down to five with three minutes and a half left.

The Cornhuskers went on a long scoring drought, in which Penn State came roaring back. Jones hit a layup and and the lead was down to three.

Jones then hit a massive three point shot and got fouled. He made the free throw and Penn State took the lead for the first time in the half. Nebraska wasn’t able to make a shot coming off a timeout, and Penn State controlled the ball.

The Nittany Lions had multiple opportunities and had multiple offensive rebounds. However, the Cornhuskers hit a big layup to take the lead with eight seconds left.

Penn State drove into the paint but lost the ball. The Nittany Lions couldn’t get a foul and lost 62-61.

Takeaways

• Streaky shooting is what hurt Penn State in the first half. Myles Dread hit big threes, Seth Lundy was making shots coming off the bench, and Myreon Jones was great, but no one else stepped up. Without a big John Harrar presence in the first 20 minutes, the Nittany Lions struggle.
• Penn State’s defense was also questionable at times. The Nittany Lions left the paint wide-open, and Nebraska took advantage of that. That’s how the Cornhuskers built momentum and stuck with Penn State through the first half. If the defense in the paint improves, the Nittany Lions could handle bigger teams better and be able to stay with them.
• Another close game, another loss. Penn State just hasn’t been clutch in close games since the VCU game, and that’s a problem. If the Nittany Lions want to be taken seriously, they can’t lose these games.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions will have a rematch against No. 4 Ohio State at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 18. It will air on the Big Ten Network and will be the final event in the Bryce Jordan Center before THON kicks off the following day.