Penn State Basketball’s tired legs fall just short to Ohio State
By Evan Smith
Penn State Basketball came so close and yet so far … as the Nittany Lions fell 83 – 79 to No. 13 Ohio State Wednesday night in Columbus.
Without Sam Sessoms (ankle injury), limited minutes from Myles Dread (returning from a shoulder injury) and an in-game injury to Jamari Wheeler’s knee decimated Penn State Basketball’s back-court depth. Ohio State had multiple 11 point leads, but thanks to a Wheeler steal, the lead was cut to 4 before the half.
Penn State Basketball pounded Ohio State down low (Harrar 15 points and 10 rebounds) helped build to an 8 point lead. Unfortunately, the legs got tired as the Buckeyes chipped away at the Lion lead, even as two of their best players fouled out (CJ Walker and Kyle Young)
Jamari missed two free throws out of the under four timeout as our legs continued to tire. The lead would change hand multiple times after a E.J. Liddell bucket, Dread three and a three by James Washington Jr. to give the Buckeyes a 1 point lead with 2:26 to go. After a Buckeye timeout, Seth hit a tough fadeaway three. The next possession he was called for a foul and OSU made both to tie up the game with 1:37 to play.
A Seth Lundy turnover led to a Harrar foul on a Liddell jumper. The Buckeyes continued to be unreal from the stripe, making both and taking a 2 point lead with 59.7 seconds left.
Seth Lundy got an open look but missed it.
Fortunately, excellent defense by Jamari Wheeler forced a shot clock violation and Penn State got the ball back, down 2 with 15.0 seconds remaining.
Myreon Jones got a great look with a wide open floater in the late that just front rimmed and fell off. Just a hair short. Tired legs are deadly. Liddell again made two free throws and the Lions fell, 83-79.