Men's Hoops: PSU Falls at Wisconsin

MADISON, WI - Penn State closed within one, 50-49, of Wisconsin with under three minutes to play after two of Jermaine Marshall's team-high 19 points but couldn't get past the Badgers in Madison as Wisconsin held on for a 60-51 victory in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Penn State, opening Big Ten play for the fourth straight season on the road, shot 53 percent in the second half to close an 11-point halftime deficit and nearly pull off its first win in Madison since 1995. Sophomore guard D.J. Newbill added 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists and sophomore Ross Travis had 11 rebounds for Penn State which held a 38-32 rebounding edge but shot just one free throw on the night.

Wisconsin made just 13-of-26 at the foul line and shot 38 percent for the game, 3-of-17 form three, but found a way to win late. Four Badgers scored in double figures led by 13 points from Ryan Evans, Jared Berggren and Ben Brust. Penn State had 23 fouls called against it while Wisconsin had just seven in the game and used 15 Lion turnovers to build a 17-4 scoring advantage off turnovers.

Penn State used a 9-0 run to close a 14-point Badger lead early in the second half to four, 40-36, after a three from freshman Brandon Taylor with 9:57 to play. Wisconsin answered with back-to-back three-point plays and then got a three-pointer from Mike Bruesewitz to open a 49-40 lead.

Penn State scored seven straight to get within two, 49-47, after a Marshall bucket and when Marshall scored again with 2:52 to play it was just a 50-49 lead for UW. Penn State got just one basket the rest of the way and Wisconsin pulled out the win with four buckets from the free throw line.

Penn State used a 12-2 run and a 4-of-16 shooting start for Wisconsin to build an early 14-10 lead. The Badgers eventually warmed up and the Lions struggled through a six-minute scoring drought in the final 10 minutes of the half as Wisconsin used a 19-2 run to take a 29-16 lead.

Newbill ended the drought for the Lions driving the lane and throwing down a one-handed slam over two Wisconsin players. Penn State committed 10 turnovers in the half to slow down and offense that started well hitting five of its first 10 shots. Wisconsin committed just one turnover and ended the half with 10 more shot attempts (34-24) than the Lions.

Marshall led the Lions with eight first half points as Penn State shot 37 percent. Berggren led Wisconsin with nine points as the Badgers hit 35 percent and went just 1-of-11 from three but held a 13-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

--PSU Athletic Communications--