Penn State Basketball: How to lose a game
By Evan Smith
The real reason Penn State lost to Seton Hall
You’ve made it this far, so I might as well tell you exactly why Penn State lost.
Myreon Jones made a layup with 1:58 left in the game to put Penn State up 84-76. A Mamukelashvili (btw he’s added to my root against for life list now) three cut the Lion lead to 5 with 1:45 left.
With 11 seconds remaining on the shot clock, Seth Lundy missed a layup and Seton Hal secured the rebound. Only eight seconds later, the Pirates got another and-1 to cut the lead to two points with just 1:16 left. In less than one full shot clock (30 seconds), Penn State gave the ball back to Seton Hall and gave up three points.
Whether it’s due to a younger team trying to learn how to win, or playing for a new Head Coach, that shot simply can’t be taken with more than five seconds left on the shot clock.
Next time down, Myreon Jones took a three pointer with 13 seconds left on the shot clock. 11 seconds later, a Seton Hall dunk tied the game and forced a long overdue Jim Ferry timeout. In one minute and one second, the Pirates completely erased an eight-point Lions’ lead.
Penn State had two possessions. If they had simply held it for 30 seconds and given it back to Seton Hall, the Pirates couldn’t have tied the game up that quickly. This poor game management is the sole reason the Nittany Lions head to Blacksburg tomorrow 2-1 instead of 3-0.
In this shortened season with post-season aspirations (NIT), you can’t give away opportunities against quality opponents. Penn State did not manage the game correctly and that’s going to be a tough loss to swallow.
Like James Franklin always says, you can’t let one loss become two (or more) with two ranked opponents on the road upcoming.
Should be interesting…