January hasn’t been easy for Penn State basketball. As the calendar turned to 2026, both the men’s and women’s teams jumped straight into Big Ten play. The month brought about tough opponents, long stretches packed with games, and little time to reset.

Tuesday, January 6

The men opened January in an iconic setting when they took on Illinois at the Palestra. The historic arena was packed, and the game felt bigger than a normal conference matchup. Despite the high-energy atmosphere, Penn State fell 73-65, starting the year with a difficult loss against a ranked opponent.

Wednesday, January 14

Penn State returned home to face UCLA. The game stayed close from start to finish, and the Nittany Lions were within reach until the final seconds. A late push was not enough, as Penn State lost 71-60 in one of its closest games of the month.

Sunday, January 18

The Lady Lions faced Rutgers at home in a much closer contest. They stayed within reach throughout the game and continued to push late. The effort showed on both ends of the court, with strong drives, defensive stops, and active play. Even as time ran down, the Lady Lions continued to fight, but ultimately fell 76-72 in a competitive finish.

The Lady Lions will hit the road to Seattle, Washington, to take on the Huskies at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21. The team will then return to State College for its next home matchup on Thursday, January 22, when it faces Wisconsin.