Wednesday, January 29
University Park, Pa.
8:30 PM
Indiana University
15-6,5-5Big Ten
49
at
64
Penn State
15-5,5-4Big Ten
1
2
F
Indiana
28
21
49
Penn St.
28
36
64
Indiana Downed at No. 24/23 Penn State, 64-49
1/29/2020 10:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Wednesday night's 64-49 loss left coach Archie Miller sugar coating nothing.
"We didn't play well," he said in his post-game press conference. "That's on me. We'll have to play a lot better moving forward."
In the previous three games IU had an offense to rival any in the Big Ten.
On Wednesday night, it had, well, frustration.
The Hoosiers shot 33.3 percent (8-for-27 in the second half) with 18 turnovers and set a season low in scoring. The Nittany Lions had a 21-6 edge on those turnovers.
Guards Al Durham, Rob Phinisee, Devonte Green and Armaan Franklin were a combined 3-for-26 from the field, 1-for-8 from three-point range.
"Offensively we were bad," Miller said.
Penn State (15-5 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten) has thrived with strong defense, but Hoosier offensive problems went beyond that, Miller said.
"Penn State does a good job with their pressure defense. They take away a lot of stuff you normally get. They're a very good defensive team.
"We had some good looks that needed to go down. You have to make some shots. We didn't have it. It wasn't one guy. We couldn't get anything going. You've got to be stronger with the ball."
Adding to the difficulty, IU shot only 10 free throws for the second straight game, a big blow to a team that rates among the nation's best in getting to the free-throw line.
"I have no idea," Miller said when asked about the lack of free-throw opportunities. "We're the No. 1 team in the league in getting to the foul line. We're third in America in free throw rate. We generate as many points from the free throw line as any team in college basketball. I have no idea why we're not getting to the line."
As a result, IU (15-6, 5-5) lost its second straight game.
"As I told our guys, there are no excuses," Miller told the Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer in his post-game radio show. "We played terrible offensively in the second half.
"When you turn it over and give a team 15 steals, they will eventually break the game open."
Penn State knocked out IU with a 20-6 second-half run fueled by 12 Hoosier turnovers.
"In the second half the turnovers just mounted," Miller said. "We could never get a grip. Turnovers and our inability to score was going to cave us in."
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis had 14 points and seven rebounds. Forward Justin Smith had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Forward Lamar Stevens led the Nittany Lions with 17 points. Former Hoosier Curtis Jones had 12.
"The numbers don't lie," Miller told Fischer. "We didn't get enough firepower from the outside and that made things difficult on the inside.
We hung in there defensively. For the most part our first-time defense was good. The 12 turnovers in the second half was the reason why the game turned into what it did."
For a while it seemed the game would turn Indiana's way.
A Joey Brunk inside basket and a Durham three-pointer got IU starting offensively. Penn State countered with five Stevens points.
Hoosier foul trouble came early inside with Brunk, De'Ron Davis and Smith all picking up two in the first 12 minutes.
Davis overcame it to total six points and three rebounds. Add Jackson-Davis' 10 points and six rebounds, and you get a 28-28 halftime tie.
A rare road victory seemed within reach.
Then it wasn't.
Early Hoosier turnovers helped Penn State inch ahead 32-28.
The Nittany Lions struggled from the free throw line, but hit a couple of three-pointers for a 39-32 lead, forcing Miller to call a timeout.
It didn't help. Turnovers mounted. Missed shots multiplied. The lead swelled to 15, then 18.
IU was finished.
Next up -- Saturday's trip to Ohio State.
"It was a disappointing performance," Miller told Fischer. "We'll clean this one up. We'll go on the road Saturday and be better."
IUHoosiers.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Wednesday night's 64-49 loss left coach Archie Miller sugar coating nothing.
"We didn't play well," he said in his post-game press conference. "That's on me. We'll have to play a lot better moving forward."
In the previous three games IU had an offense to rival any in the Big Ten.
On Wednesday night, it had, well, frustration.
The Hoosiers shot 33.3 percent (8-for-27 in the second half) with 18 turnovers and set a season low in scoring. The Nittany Lions had a 21-6 edge on those turnovers.
Guards Al Durham, Rob Phinisee, Devonte Green and Armaan Franklin were a combined 3-for-26 from the field, 1-for-8 from three-point range.
"Offensively we were bad," Miller said.
Penn State (15-5 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten) has thrived with strong defense, but Hoosier offensive problems went beyond that, Miller said.
"Penn State does a good job with their pressure defense. They take away a lot of stuff you normally get. They're a very good defensive team.
"We had some good looks that needed to go down. You have to make some shots. We didn't have it. It wasn't one guy. We couldn't get anything going. You've got to be stronger with the ball."
Adding to the difficulty, IU shot only 10 free throws for the second straight game, a big blow to a team that rates among the nation's best in getting to the free-throw line.
"I have no idea," Miller said when asked about the lack of free-throw opportunities. "We're the No. 1 team in the league in getting to the foul line. We're third in America in free throw rate. We generate as many points from the free throw line as any team in college basketball. I have no idea why we're not getting to the line."
As a result, IU (15-6, 5-5) lost its second straight game.
"As I told our guys, there are no excuses," Miller told the Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer in his post-game radio show. "We played terrible offensively in the second half.
"When you turn it over and give a team 15 steals, they will eventually break the game open."
Penn State knocked out IU with a 20-6 second-half run fueled by 12 Hoosier turnovers.
"In the second half the turnovers just mounted," Miller said. "We could never get a grip. Turnovers and our inability to score was going to cave us in."
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis had 14 points and seven rebounds. Forward Justin Smith had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Forward Lamar Stevens led the Nittany Lions with 17 points. Former Hoosier Curtis Jones had 12.
"The numbers don't lie," Miller told Fischer. "We didn't get enough firepower from the outside and that made things difficult on the inside.
We hung in there defensively. For the most part our first-time defense was good. The 12 turnovers in the second half was the reason why the game turned into what it did."
For a while it seemed the game would turn Indiana's way.
A Joey Brunk inside basket and a Durham three-pointer got IU starting offensively. Penn State countered with five Stevens points.
Hoosier foul trouble came early inside with Brunk, De'Ron Davis and Smith all picking up two in the first 12 minutes.
Davis overcame it to total six points and three rebounds. Add Jackson-Davis' 10 points and six rebounds, and you get a 28-28 halftime tie.
A rare road victory seemed within reach.
Then it wasn't.
Early Hoosier turnovers helped Penn State inch ahead 32-28.
The Nittany Lions struggled from the free throw line, but hit a couple of three-pointers for a 39-32 lead, forcing Miller to call a timeout.
It didn't help. Turnovers mounted. Missed shots multiplied. The lead swelled to 15, then 18.
IU was finished.
Next up -- Saturday's trip to Ohio State.
"It was a disappointing performance," Miller told Fischer. "We'll clean this one up. We'll go on the road Saturday and be better."
Team Stats
IND
PSU
FG%
.333
.375
3FG%
.182
.278
FT%
.900
.478
RB
44
38
TO
18
7
STL
3
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
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