Penn State men’s basketball (14-13, 4-12 Big Ten) beat Nebraska (17-10, 7-9 Big Ten) 89-72 in the Bryce Jordan Center Wednesday night.

Zach Hicks and Yanic Konan Niederhauser each finished with 19 points as the Nittany Lions led for nearly the entire game.

How It Happened

Mike Rhoades’ starting five consisted of Ace Baldwin Jr., D’Marco Dunn, Freddie Dilione V, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, and Zach Hicks.

Konan Niederhauser won the tip and, after a miss from Dunn, Dilione got the put-back and opened up the scoring on the first possession.

Sam Hoiberg answered on the other end for the Cornhuskers before both teams had an empty possession. Dilione was fouled on the next attempt and made both from the line to go up 4-2.

Dunn registered a steal but couldn’t find Hicks on the breakaway and Nebraska regained possession. Three more turnovers later, Dunn scored from the paint to put the Nittany Lions up by four. Konan Niederhauser added another bucket from the paint on two trips down the floor as Nebraska called timeout trailing 10-2.

Nebraska committed a shot-clock violation out of the timeout and Konan Niederhauser added two more on the rebound after a Dilione miss.

Baldwin couldn’t hit a three as the shot clock expired but Hicks cleaned up the miss and the Nittany Lions led 14-2. Brice Williams was fouled and hit all three free throws to get Nebraska back within nine. After a few misses from both sides, Baldwin made a charging layup and was fouled. Baldwin hit the and-one and Penn State led 17-5.

Williams answered the three-point play from Penn State with a three of his own. Hicks was fouled and made both shots before Nebraska couldn’t find the basket on the ensuing possession. After the second media timeout, Nebraska once again couldn’t hit from three. The Nittany Lions took advantage and Konan Niederhauser slammed home a dunk to extend the lead to 13.

Dunn charged the basket and hit as the Nittany Lions picked up their defensive pressure and started running a full-court press. Juwan Gary hit from three but Konan Niederhauser responded with a made bucket at the other end with the score 25-10.

Konan Niederhauser was called for a foul and Gary made both free throws. Hicks hit a three on the other end and Penn State’s lead ballooned to 16. Baldwin added on with an and-one to make the score 31-14.

Williams hit another three before Dunn made a two and maintained the big lead. Dilione found Kern underneath the bucket and added yet another bucket from the paint. Hicks made his second three of the night to put the Nittany Lions up by 20 and forced a Nebraska timeout with four minutes remaining in the first half.

Still pressing, the Penn State defense forced another turnover after the timeout but Baldwin couldn’t convert a layup on the other end. Connor Essegian knocked down Nebraska’s fourth three of the night to bring the score to 39-22 in favor of Penn State.

Dunn cashed in on a three before a shot clock violation gave the ball right back to the Nittany Lions. After a miss, Connor Essegian hit a three before Penn State got five straight.

Dilione made another bucket from the paint as the first half entered the final minute. Baldwin held for the final shot and hit as Penn State ended the half with a 50-27 lead.

Andrew Morgan scored the first bucket of the second half before Hicks answered on the other end. Konan Niederhauser sent a shot back but an offensive rebound gave the Cornhuskers another shot. Hicks jumped in front of Nebraska’s next pass and found a streaking Dilione for another layup. Morgan hit again and Nebraska jumped back within 20 at 54-34.

The Cornhuskers continued to push offensively and went on a 6-2 run that brought the deficit down to 16. It didn’t last, though, and Dunn hit a three to push Penn State back out to a 59-40 lead. Penn State took the next four points to go up 63-40 before Nebraska got back on the board with a made two.

Dunn hit another three to go up by 24 and Kachi Nzeh added a two before Nebraska called a timeout. Williams hit a three out of the timeout before Baldwin was called for a foul and another timeout was called.

Braxton Meah opened play back up with a layup and Konan Niederhauser answered with one of his own to keep the Penn State lead at 24. Essegian hit another three before Ahron Ulis was called for a foul on the floor.

Dilione grabbed a pass on the wing and drove to the basket to push the score to 74-53 with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. Hicks followed the bucket with a three but Gavin Griffiths responded for the Cornhuskers.

The under-eight timeout came with the Nittany Lions leading 77-56.

Morgan scored after an empty possession from the Nittany Lions but Hicks hit his fourth three of the night to get the Nittany Lions to 80. Hicks stayed hot and hit another three on the next trip. Nebraska rattled off four straight points and Rhoades called a timeout with the Nittany Lions up 83-64.

The final media timeout came after a foul on Konan Niederhauser and Morgan made one free throw. Kern registered a dunk before Essegian hit another three and the Cornhuskers trailed by 17.

Konan Niederhauser slammed down another dunk before the Nittany Lions started to play keep away and run out the clock as the Nittany Lions won 89-72.

Takeaways

• The Nittany Lions defense limited the Cornhuskers all night long. Penn State finished the night with 16 turnovers gained.
• Penn State hasn’t been the best from the field during the recent string of losses, but Tuesday night, the shots were falling. D’Marco Dunn went 3-5 from three-point land while the Nittany Lions finished shooting 62% from the field. Zach Hicks also made a splash from beyond the arc and finished with five three-pointers made.
• Yanic Konan Niederhauser was a presence early, as the Nittany Lions utilized the big men in the paint all game. The forward ended the night with 19 points.

What’s Next?

Penn State will travel to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 22.