Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Northwestern Fall to Penn State, 79-60
2/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Northwestern fell victim to a stellar shooting performance by Penn State for the second time this season as the Wildcats fell to the Nittany Lions 79-60 Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center. Michael Thompson led NU with 21 points.
After shooting 56.3 percent for the game in a win over Northwestern Feb. 10, Penn State shot 68 percent (17-25) in the first half on Sunday.
Each of the Wildcats' first five baskets in the game came from 3-point range, allowing the visitors to hang with the Nittany Lions through the midway point of the opening stanza.
NU trailed only 23-21 with just under 10 minutes remaining before the intermission, but the Wildcats' lack of defensive intensity eventually came back to cost them.
Penn State committed only two turnovers over the opening 20 minutes of play as it eventually took a 49-35 lead into the break.
The respite did little to help Northwestern's cause. The Wildcats made just three of their first 19 field goal attempts in the second half, preventing them from making a run.
Northwestern returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday as it hosts Chicago State on Senior Night.
