Penn State men’s basketball (8-7, 2-2 Big Ten) came from behind to defeat Michigan (6-9, 1-3 Big Ten) 79-73 at The Palestra on Sunday afternoon. D’Marco Dunn provided a spark in the second half to propel the Nittany Lions to a victory.

The Penn State backcourt of Ace Baldwin Jr. and Kanye Clary led the way in Philadelphia. Baldwin had one of his best games since becoming a Nittany Lion, finishing with 25 points on 13 shots. Clary once again came alive in the second half, racking up 18 points and five rebounds.

How It Happened

Mike Rhoades rolled out the same starting five that started against Michigan State in its blowout loss. Puff Johnson started the game missing two corner three-pointers for the Nittany Lions. Clary had two opportunities to knock down the first bucket of the game a few possessions later. Michigan’s Terrance Williams got the scoring with a triple three minutes in.

Penn State remained cold from the field over the next few minutes as the Wolverines found their rhythm. Dunn got the Nittany Lions on the board after starting 0-9 from the field right before the first media timeout as Michigan led 9-2. Dug McDaniel swished home a deep three out of the break to extend the visitors’ lead.

The Penn State faithful finally had something to cheer about six minutes in after the Nittany Lions forced a Michigan shot-clock violation. Baldwin earned his first bucket of the afternoon a couple of possessions later, driving past the defender for an easy deuce. Dunn fell to the ground, turning the ball over in transition before being subbed out.

Tray Jackson hit a wide-open three in front of the Penn State bench to make it a 17-6 game. Zach Hicks finally found the bottom of the net on the other end of the floor for a quick answer. Jackson took it to the rim for a highlight reel dunk that shook the entire building and the Nittany Lions’ defense.

Hicks buried a three out of the timeout to cut the deficit to 21-14 in favor of the Wolverines. In a wild possession the next time down the floor, Qudus Wahab gave the ball to Clary, who hit an acrobatic layup in traffic. Michigan responded on its next few times down the floor to bring the lead back to double digits.

The Nittany Lions were still unable to stop the Michigan offense, despite a full-court press. Baldwin used his physicality to get another two points to fall and the foul call. Nick Kern Jr. turned a Wahab rejection into offense, but Dunn couldn’t finish the play with a made three. The Wolverines led 35-22 with under four minutes to play in the first half.

Jameel Brown, a Philadelphia native, checked into the game for the first time and fouled the Wolverines on a three-point attempt. Youssef Khayat knocked down one of three from the free-throw line. Baldwin found two more points under the basket on the next trip up the floor. Kern went into his bag to blow by the defender for two points and the foul to cut the lead to 36-27.

Wahab finally got a paint touch on the offensive end with 43 seconds left in the half but was called for an offensive foul in an attempt to shoot. Hicks had a chance to hit a three as time expired, but his corner attempt did not go and the Nittany Lions went into halftime trailing 37-27.

Hicks started the second half right where he finished the first with a missed shot from behind the arc. Wahab cleaned up the glass and got a quick two points for the Nittany Lions. Baldwin muscled home a bucket for back-to-back points to cut the lead down to six. Johnson finally lit it up from deep followed by a Clary steal and two points. Just like that, Penn State was back in the game and forced a Michigan timeout at 39-36.

Clary decided to take over to begin the half, scoring five points on back-to-back possessions to bring the Penn State crowd to its feet. The Nittany Lions closed the gap to only one point before Michigan answered on the other side of the floor.

Both teams traded poor possessions in the following minutes with the score stuck at 47-43 in favor of the maize and blue. Clary finally broke the scoring drought with 13:30 minutes to play with another deep three off his left hand.

Baldwin went to the line with 12 minutes left and knocked down both free throws to keep it a one-point game. Dunn gave the Nittany Lions the 51-49 lead with a three-pointer from the left wing. Dunn hit another three out of the break from the same wing to extend the Penn State lead. The Dunn show continued in transition for a quick eight points by himself.

MICHIGAN’S LEAD IS DUNN pic.twitter.com/0EdjbceiQD

— Onward State (@OnwardState) January 7, 2024

Wahab pushed the lead to seven with a smooth hook shot in the paint after the under-eight timeout. The Nittany Lions continued to get it done defensively forcing the Wolverines to turn the ball over. Dunn went to the line for a one-and-one opportunity and knocked one of two to make it a 63-54 contest. Penn State knocked down more at the charity stripe to bring the lead to double digits for the first time all afternoon.

Clary missed a step-back jump shot with under three minutes left and then fouled Michigan to give the Wolverines a one-and-one opportunity. The maize and blue couldn’t convert the free points from the foul line. Baldwin made the Wolverines pay with a layup to reach 20 points in the game and make it a 69-60 game with under two minutes left.

As the foul game started, Clary made two from the line followed by the Nittany Lions’ defense, speeding up Michigan with its full-court pressure. The Wolverines sent Dunn to the line with 1:03 to go and he hit one at the line to keep the lead at 72-65. The final minute felt like ages as video reviews and fouls kept the game going.

Williams kept Michigan within striking distance at 74-69 with a three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining. Clary went to the line and knocked down one to keep Penn State ahead. Baldwin then took his opportunity at the line and hit two. Penn State completed the comeback to win 79-73 over Michigan in historic fashion at The Palestra.

Takeaways

• Penn State has to shoot better. The Nittany Lions couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half, especially from behind the arc. The blue and white need to find more consistency shooting the ball in Big Ten play.
• This roster is composed of many players who thrive in isolation offensive play. That leads to a lot of streaky play from individuals and as a team. That can be detrimental like in the first half but also positive as it played out in the second half of today’s game.
• The Palestra game delivers almost every time. It’s a great new tradition for Penn State basketball in the Philadelphia area. The atmosphere and history that comes with The Palestra is something that will help get this program to the next level.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will return to the court against Northwestern at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, at the Bryce Jordan Center. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.