Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Wildcats Fall to Penn State, 65-62
1/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2005
Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite a valiant comeback, the Northwestern men's basketball team fell to Penn State 65-62 Saturday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.
With the win, the Nittany Lions improved to 7-11 (1-4 Big Ten). NU fell to 8-9 (1-4 Big Ten) with its fourth loss in a row.
Vedran Vukusic led the way for Northwestern with 17 points, but he was forced to sit the final minutes with a shoulder injury. The Wildcats were also without starting center Mike Thompson, who did not make the trip after being suspended by head coach Bill Carmody for a violation of team rules.
Despite that, the 'Cats made a valiant comeback down the stretch. They were down 59-48 with just about three minutes to play, before Evan Seacat drained a three-pointer. PSU's Aaron Johnson made one of two foul shots, and then sophomore center Vince Scott made another trey -- his fourth in as many attempts as he made his first start of the season.
Davor Duvancic made a steal on Penn State's next possession and went in uncontested for a layup, cutting the deficit to just 60-56. After PSU's Mike Walker missed a three-pointer as the shot clock expired, Duvancic got ahead of the pack and received a nice bounce pass from T.J. Parker on the break for another layup that made it a two-point game with 46 seconds to play.
The dagger came on Penn State's next possession, however, as the Nittany Lions worked the shot clock and got a long trey from Walker as it expired.
NU called timeout at midcourt with nine seconds to play, and on the inbounds threw an alley-oop that Mohamed Hachad converted. Michael Jenkins then stole an inbounds pass, and when he missed the layup Duvancic was there to finish and make the score 63-62 with three seconds to play.
The 'Cats fouled Travis Parker on the inbounds, and the Nittany Lion forward calmly made both shots. Geary Claxton then intercepted a long inbounds pass by Northwestern that clinched the win.
Northwestern controlled most of the first half, before consecutive treys by PSU's Danny Morrissey and Claxton put the Nittany Lions up 24-22. The teams traded the lead a few times before the break, and when Hachad drained a long trey at the buzzer NU went into the locker room up 28-27.
Penn State immediately took control in the second half, though, using a 6-0 run to break a 34-34 tie, and then a 9-0 run to counter four straight points by the 'Cats that made it an 11-point game (49-38).
Scott scored 14 points on the day, his career high, and it came on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting performance including the four treys. Hachad had 12 points, while Duvancic scored 11.
For PSU, Morrissey came off the bench to score 16 (including 4-of-6 three-point baskets), while Walker knocked down 15 (on five treys). Parker and Claxton had 13 points apiece.
NU is next in action Wednesday, hosting Iowa at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
