SB Nation Pittsburgh - Penn State Vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions Fall To Wolverines, 76-69https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-01-02T19:11:02-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16733492011-01-02T19:11:02-05:002011-01-02T19:11:02-05:00Penn State Vs. Michigan: Wolverines Rally To Beat Nittany Lions
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26708/talor-battle">Talor Battle</a> scored 31 points and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26715/jeff-brooks">Jeff Brooks</a> and David Jackson contributed 16 and 15 respectively, but it wasn't enough for Penn State to hold off Michigan in a 76-69 loss in Ann Arbor on Sunday evening.</p>
<p>The Nittany Lions led by as many as nine in the first half, but after coming out of the locker room cold in the second half, the Lions watched their lead evaporate and eventually succumbed to 57% shooting from the field by the Wolverines.</p>
<p>Penn State's big three scorers contributed 62 of Penn State's 69 points on the night. The rest of the team combined for only seven, and without Billy Oliver's five points, only two. The Lions also struggled at the line, connecting on only 12-18 from the charity stripe.</p>
<p>Little did as much to do in Penn State as the big shooting number by Michigan, however. The Lions looked disorganized on defense are routinely found themselves concedidng open jumpers and inside buckets to the Wolverines by falling out of position and not rotating quickly enough.</p>
<p>The loss drops Penn State to 1-1 in the league entering a five game stretch against ranked opponents that could very well determine whether Penn State will see any meaningful action in March or not. It was likely Penn State's best shot to pick up a league win for a while.</p>
<p>The Lions now prepare for games with Purdue and Michigan State later this week.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/1/2/1909779/penn-state-vs-michigan-wolverines-rally-to-beat-nittany-lionsFTG18552011-01-02T17:02:15-05:002011-01-02T17:02:15-05:00Penn State Vs. Michigan: First Half Notes
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Behind 14 points from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26708/talor-battle">Talor Battle</a> and 13 points from David Jackson, Penn State leads Michigan 36-31 after on half at Chrisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Here are some notes from the first frame.</p>
<ul>
<li>After a strong performance at Indiana, the 1-2-3 punch of Battle, Jackson and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26715/jeff-brooks">Jeff Brooks</a> is playing well again, scoring all but three of Penn State's points. That's what happens when neither gets into foul trouble.</li>
<li>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52375/billy-oliver">Billy Oliver</a> has played fairly well in place of Andrew Jones, who spent much of the first half on the bench with foul trouble. He only has one point, but has been making hustle plays here and there and setting up the scorers well.</li>
<li>Michigan was 4-9 from the perimeter in the first half and had a few more open treys to boot. Penn State needs to clamp down the on the Wolverines on the outside. They're not particularly adept at shooting the deep ball. No sense making it easier on Michigan than it has to be.</li>
<li>No one for Penn State has more than two rebounds individually, but as a team the Nittany Lions did a good job on the glass, out rebounding Michigan 15-9 in the first half.</li>
<li>Good news and bad news for Penn State on the turnover front: Penn State only has five turnovers but has only forced five by Michigan. <br>
</li>
<li>Oliver, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52374/cammeron-woodyard">Cammeron Woodyard</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99917/tim-frazier">Tim Frazier</a> have already taken more shots combined than they did in the entire game against Indiana. Good to see them looking for some opportunities.</li>
</ul>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/1/2/1909535/penn-state-vs-michigan-first-half-notesFTG18552011-01-02T15:25:52-05:002011-01-02T15:25:52-05:00Penn State Vs. Michigan: Nittany Lions Go For 2-0 In Ann Arbor
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Penn State will look to improve to 2-0 in Big Ten play today when it faces Michigan in Ann Arbor at 4:00 P.M. today. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.</p>
<p>The Nittany Lions are coming off a 69-60 win against Indiana in Bloomington on Monday night in which the trio of David Jackson, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26708/talor-battle">Talor Battle</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26715/jeff-brooks">Jeff Brooks</a> did much of the heavy lifting, scoring 57 of Penn State's 69 points and grabbing 22 of the team's 27 rebounds on the evening.</p>
<p>With five straight games against ranked opponents Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois and Ohio State coming up starting this week, Sunday's game might be Penn State's best chance to pick up a victory hear in January.</p>
<p>The Wolverines sport a young roster and are coming off a thorough beating at the hands of Purdue on Tuesday to open Big Ten play. They are 10-3 overall, and their best wins are against Clemson and Oakland in the non-conference. Michigan is led by guards <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99899/darius-morris">Darius Morris</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123897/tim-hardaway-jr">Tim Hardaway Jr</a>. who both average more than 11 points per game.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/1/2/2327348/penn-state-vs-michigan-nittany-lions-go-for-2-0-in-ann-arborFTG1855