Second half collapse dooms Penn State basketball vs. Minnesota

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The slide continues for Penn State basketball (9-11, 3-6 Big Ten), falling to Minnesota (13-7, 4-5) 83-74 Saturday night in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Nittany Lions led by as many as 16 points, but a late ice-cold shooting performance led to a second half collapse. Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions now limp to the end of January, losers of five out of seven games this month.

Penn State puts together complete performance in the first half

Both teams shot well throughout the first half, and it was a game of short runs early. Minnesota took a 24-18 lead around the midway point of the half, but that was the largest it would get. Penn State found its defense and forced seven turnovers in the half, including on three straight possessions.

Down by six with just under nine minutes left to play, the Nittany Lions went on a 22-2 run to take a commanding 45-31 lead into halftime. Penn State really got it going in the paint during the half, scoring 24 points to Minnesota’s 12. That can be credited to outrebounding the Gophers 17-11, including picking up six offensive rebounds. It may have been one of the most complete halves Penn State basketball had played all season.

Nittany Lions go ice-cold down the stretch

Kanye Clary opened the scoring in the second half to push the Nittany Lion lead to 16. But the tide quickly turned, and the Gophers went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to six. Mike Rhoades was forced to call a timeout just 2:15 into the half.

Minnesota continued to push and took the lead back 54-52 with 13:22 remaining in the game. Mike Rhoades continued to use his bench to try and end the shooting slump, including brining on Jameel Brown for some offense.

Penn State basketball scored just 11 points in 11 minutes to open the half, much of which came from the free throw line. The Nittany Lions were simply ice cold from the field and trailed 68-61 with under seven minutes remaining.

But then an Ace Baldwin three and a Zach Hicks steal and score put Nittany Lions within two points and seemingly got everyone in the Bryce Jordan Center back into it. Penn State battled back to tie it at 70 without Kanye Clary, who went out with what looked like a hit to the head.

Minnesota reclaimed the lead 74-71 with 1:05 to go. Picking up an and-one opportunity following a missed free throw, the Gophers extended the lead to six with under a minute left. Ultimately, that was the swing that Minnesota needed to pull out the win.

Inconsistencies shine through yet again

This was about as classic of a Penn State basketball game as we have seen this season. The inconsistencies of this team are still showing in late January. While the Nittany Lions can beat anyone, they also can lose to anyone.

The opening five minutes of the second half are what decided this game. Penn State allowed Minnesota to regain its confidence, and there was no looking back after that. The Nittany Lions were outscored 52-29 in the second half, and the Gophers snuck out of State College with a much-needed conference road win.

Penn State basketball returns to action Wednesday night when the Nittany Lions travel to Piscataway to take on Rutgers.

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