Penn State men’s basketball (11-14, 2-10 Big Ten) picked up its second conference win of the season late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning in a hard-fought battle with Washington (12-13, 4-10 Big Ten).
The game featured nine ties and 15 lead changes but ended up falling 63-60 in the Nittany Lions’ favor. Neither team led by more than six points at any point of the low-scoring contest.
Most of the game felt like a deadlock, with neither team able to pull away by a massive margin. Whoever had the advantage
heading into late-game free throws was going to come away with the win here.
The first half, in particular, had a slew of lead changes. Both teams were able to build multi-possession leads, but things were deadlocked at the U8. Penn State took just six three-point shots in the first half, but was able to convert three of them compared to the Huskies’ 3-for-11 mark. Dominick Stewart, Kayden Mingo, and Eli Rice all got on the board with first-half triples.
The Nittany Lions grew their lead to the largest of the night near the 1-minute mark in the first half, holding a 35-29 edge. But, come halftime, it was 35-32 in Penn State’s favor.
The second half was more of the same. Neither team played particularly fast nor well, but Penn State was set on outpacing Washington. Things were knotted up at 51 at the U8, but Freddie Dilione V decided to take matters into his own hands down the stretch. The Tennessee transfer scored eight points in the final eight minutes and helped put the Nittany Lions ahead down the final stretch, ultimately leading to the gritty 63-60 victory.
Player of the Game
Freddie Dilione V- 16 points, 7/14 FG, 2/2 FT
Dilione was once again the best player on the court for Penn State, and his clutch play down the stretch ultimately sealed the victory. He’s now scored 10-plus points in five consecutive Big Ten games.
Random Observations
- Expansion Issues- Penn State football playing on the road in Seattle next season? Penn State basketball playing in Seattle past midnight on a Wednesday in February? Not so awesome.
- PNWinning– The Nittany Lions’ victory Wednesday night marked their first-ever win over the Huskies in their first-ever trip to Seattle. A Valentine’s Day date with the Oregon Ducks, who currently sit in last place in the conference, will make for a great opportunity for Penn State to put together a win streak.
What’s Next
Penn State will stay in the PNW to face Oregon (8-16, 1-12 Big Ten) on Saturday, February 14. The game will tip off from Eugene at 3 p.m. ET and be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
