Penn State Basketball wins double-overtime thriller over Iowa
By Evan Smith
Penn State Basketball took down Iowa, despite blowing a late lead, surviving 90-86 in double overtime.
STATE COLLEGE, P.A. — Penn State Basketball fought valiantly after giving up a late second-half lead but was able to win the game 90-86 in double overtime.
Just nine days ago, Penn State Basketball laid a second half egg in Iowa City but revenge was delicious for the Nittany Lions Monday night.
On Coaches versus Cancer Night in front of a sparse crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center, the Nittany Lions started a brand new starting lineup, sending both Greg Lee and Jaheam Cornwall (finally) to the bench, starting Jalen Pickett, Seth Lundy, Myles Dread, John Harrar and making his first career start, Dallion Johnson.
The hustle was evident from the jump with the Nittany Lions boxing out the Hawkeye misses, leading 8-2 at the first media timeout. Caleb Dorsey also saw his first action in over a month, missing his first shot but continued poor Iowa shooting (3 for 12 compared to PSU’s 8 for 14) allowed the Nits to open a 10 point lead.
A Hawkeye run was capped by Pickett missing an assignment on an Iowa fastbreak and just like that the lead was cut to 3, forcing Shrewsberry to call timeout.
Penn State Basketball built the lead back to 9 thanks for a great first half from Lundy (12) but more blown defensive assignments gave the Hawkeyes continued wide-open looks from three, opening up their largest lead of the game at 4.
A confusing Micah Shrewsberry timeout, apparently not realizing he’d already called his ‘use it or lose it’ gave Penn State the opportunity to draw up a play to end the half but a missed Sessoms lead gave Iowa the 34-32 halftime lead. Some late Iowa threes were the difference in a first half full of runs. Dallion Johnson did head to the locker room early and did not return to the court.
The start of the second was a mirror of the first, PSU outhustling Iowa and the Hawkeyes missing everything as the Lions took a four-point lead into the under 16 media timeout. The pace then exploded as both teams started scoring at will, Iowa from deep and PSU with Greg Lee on the glass and Pickett finally hitting a shot from deep.
Another utterly insane end of shot clock contested fadeaway from Pickett gave the Lions a two-point lead at 57-55 and two Harrar free throws pushed the lead to four as Iowa continued to miss every non three-point shot but some tough calls went against PSU to keep Iowa close.
After a Lundy offensive rebound, Sessoms drove to the bucket late with the scoop shot and a defensive stand by Dread on Murray and the Lions had a real chance to pull off the upset, extending the lead to four with just over two minutes to go.
Lee rimmed in a tip slam off a Harrar miss but Iowa came right down and scored and after a helter-skelter press break, Shrewsberry called timeout, 63-59 Lions with 1:32 to go.
Sessoms hit an end-of-shot clock fadeaway but Keegan Murray hit a 3 to cut the lead back to three, 53.8 seconds left. After breaking the press, Pickett stunningly got blocked on his end of shot clock fadeaway, shot clock violation, ball back to Iowa. Iowa got a quick layup and Fran McCaffrey called a quick timeout to set up his press.
Sessoms got fouled, shooting a one-and-one and made the first but missed the second. Iowa missed a prayer three but an incredible tip-in at the buzzer sent the game to overtime. Sigh…
After exchanging buckets, Iowa hit 3 of 4 free throws for a 3 point lead but Lundy answered with a huge three-ball. Iowa made one free throw but Lee made two to give PSU the lead. Murray missed a three but an offensive rebound and putback gave Iowa the lead back, which Harrar answered with two free throws of his own, which Iowa answered with two more free throws.
Down one, Sessoms got blocked on the drive and Iowa missed on the other end. Pickett missed a tough fadeaway and PSU was forced to foul. Iowa made both to lead 78-75 with 23.8 seconds left, timeout Penn State.
Penn State Basketball didn’t really run much of anything but Dread got off a tough three and DRILLED IT! With 9.7 seconds left, Penn State played great defense to force an airball at the buzzer, DOUBLE OT!!
Iowa scored first but a personal 5-0 run from Pickett gave PSU a three-point lead. Two Iowa free throws and a bad turnover by Lundy cut the lead to 1. An Iowa miss and Sessoms scoop shot pushed the lead to 3 and Iowa missed a three!
Dread missed a three that would have iced it and then PSU gave up multiple offensive rebounds, but Murray missed one of two free throws, Lions led 85-83 with 58 seconds left.
Pickett missed a step-back three-pointer, giving Iowa one more chance but Iowa missed the three and Dread secured the board and the free throws sealed the deal.
The Nittany Lions travel to #11 Madison on Saturday at 6:00 pm to take on Wisconsin.
