Late Surge Not Enough in 79-67 Road Loss at Ohio StateLate Surge Not Enough in 79-67 Road Loss at Ohio State
Penn State Athletics

Late Surge Not Enough in 79-67 Road Loss at Ohio State

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State men's basketball team made a late surge, but wasn't able to overcome a slow start in a 79-67 road loss at Ohio State Saturday afternoon.
 
Penn State made a valiant comeback effort late in the second half, reducing a 23-point Ohio State lead to just nine, but the Buckeyes closed the game out in the final minutes. Senior Puff Johnson and sophomore Kanye Clary led the Nittany Lions with 13 points apiece, while Nick Kern Jr. tallied 12 and Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in 10.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Nittany Lions started 0-for-11 from the field while the Buckeyes were eight for their first 14 as Ohio State got out to a 16-0 lead just over six minutes into the game. A banked in 3-pointer from Jameel Brown put Penn State's first points on the board at the 12:57 mark.
  • Penn State started to turn the tide midway through the opening term as the Nittany Lions held the Buckeyes without a field goal for over six minutes and pulled back within 10 at 29-19 with 2:08 left on the clock. PSU didn't score in the final two minutes, however, as the Buckeyes took a 33-19 advantage into halftime.
  • An exchange of baskets opened the second half before Ohio State used a 12-2 run to stretch its lead to 53-31with 12:23 to play.
  • The Buckeyes worked their lead to as much as 23 at 66-43 with 7:59 to play. A Nick Kern Jr. jumper and Puff Johnson triple helped spark a 20-6 Penn State run over the next 5:42. Five different Nittany Lions scored and the PSU defense held OSU to a 2-for-10 clip from the field as Penn State was suddenly back within single digits at 72-63 with 2:17 to play.
  • The Buckeyes closed the game out from the free throw line in the final minutes to earn the 79-67 win.

 
GAME NOTES

  • The Nittany Lions finished with 11 3-pointers, marking the sixth time this season Penn State has drilled double-digit triples.
  • Puff Johnson tallied his fourth double-digit scoring game of the season.
  • Nick Kern Jr. finished in double figures for the fourth-straight game and the fifth time in the last six games.
  • Qudus Wahab collected a team-high 10 rebounds.
  • The Buckeyes owned a 22-4 edge in free throws made.

 
UP NEXT

  • Penn State enters a bye week and will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27 when the Nittany Lions host Minnesota at 6:30 p.m. inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

 
The 2023-24 Penn State men's basketball season is presented by Highmark Health.