Penn State Basketball: Penn State demolishes Illinois on the road 74-59

Penn State Basketball went on the road to Champaign, Illinois to do battle with the #17 Fighting Illini and came home with a rare Big Ten road victory, 74-59

This game saw Penn State Basketball display its best overall effort of the young 2022-23 season.

Just three days removed from their worst outing of the season, a 67-58 home loss to Michigan State, Penn State did its best Jekyll and Hyde impersonation. Following season lows in points, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage on Wednesday, the Nittany Lions came out and shot 50 % from the floor and also from long range, hitting 12-24 3-pointers.

With 3:26 left in the first half, the score was tied 34-34. Jalen Pickett’s jumper 30 seconds later sparked a 13-4 Penn State run to close out the half.  The Nittany Lions’ “Mr. Everything” played all 40 minutes, scored 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. Perhaps just as important, he only had 2 of the team’s 9 total turnovers.

Andrew Funk opened the second stanza with a 3 pointer and Penn State expanded its lead 14. Illinois wasn’t ranked 17th for nothing though and they held PSU scoreless for over 5 minutes and trimmed the lead to 5 points, 52-47.

After a rare Penn State turnover, Illinois looked to make it a one possession game. However, a missed 3 pointer was grabbed by Seth Lundy (16 pts and 7 rebs). The ensuing possession is where Penn State exerted its dominance. Penn State set up an inbounds play with a second left on the shot clock and Bucknell-transfer Andrew Funk (20 pts on 6-9 3-point shooting) hit a turn-around 3 pointer . After going over 5 minutes without a point, 64 seconds later they hit 3 bombs for 9 points.

Myles Dread was the fourth member of the Nittany Lions to score in double digits, tallying 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting from 3-point land. Evan Mahaffey closed out the Penn State scoring with one 3-pointer. Illinois had 2 players in double digits, Matthew Mayer with 14 and Skyy Clark with 11.

VBR’s own Andrew Adair stated, “Live by the 3, die by the 3” and this week proved him to be very prophetic, as well as foreshadowing for the rest of the season. When they are on, Penn State can hold their own against anyone with their ability to score baskets in bunches. However, when they’re off, more head-scratching losses like Michigan State will ensue. Whatever team appears though, they promise to give an entertaining display.

Catch the next Jekyll and Hyde act, Penn State style, on Dec. 18 as they host the Golden Griffins of Canisus College at 12 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.