Indiana Loses to Penn State Again on Another Awful Shooting Day

Indiana lost its fourth straight game to Penn State in a 13-month window, and it was the same issue with the Nittany Lions making nine threes in an 83-74 win. Indiana made only two — both in the final minute — and also missed 11 free throws to fall to 14-13 on the season and 6-10 in the Big Ten.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The rinse/repeat refrain is getting old, but for Indiana's basketball team, it's the same things that keep killing them over and over. 

It was true again on Saturday when the Hoosiers lost 83-74 to Penn State, getting swept in the series this season and extending their losing streak to four against the Nittany Lions.

With the loss, the Hoosiers are now 14-13 on the season and 6-10 in the Big Ten. They've lost five of their last six games, and their postseason hopes are all but gone now.

The story, once again, was Indiana's inability to make shots. They missed their first eight three-pointers and didn't make one until there was just 1:35 to go and down by 11. They were just 2-for-15 from three, and the second make came as the clock ran out. 

It's been this way forever, seemingly, in this rivalry with Penn State that's become very one-sided. The Nittany Lions made nine threes, and in their past four wins over the Hoosiers, they have outshot them 47-13 from three.

That, for those bad at math, is a point differential of a stunning 102 points.

"I thought we battled, but when I look at the stat sheet and look at the free throws and the missed opportunities to make threes, I thought that was the difference,'' Indiana coach Mike Woodson said.  "We're getting good looks, a lot of good looks, I just think from a mental standpoint I've go to get them where they are comfortable because we haven't made them this season. 

"The free throws are another big problem. Guys just have to come in and make them.''

The free throws were a problem once again, too. It wasn't early, where sophomore forward Malik Reneau was able to get to the free throw line often. He made them, too, knocking down 9-of-10 from the line to start the game. 

But it the second half, it all fell apart. The Hoosiers were just 5-for-13 from the line, and missed five in a row at one point. They finished 14-for-25 for the game. 

"When we get to the line, we've got to knock those down,'' Reneau said. "That keeps us in the game, keeps us close. Going down the stretch, we came up short on a couple. It's definitely mental. We've got to go up there with confidence. You have to see yourself making the shot and believing in that shot.''

It was unfortunate too, because the Hoosiers were still trying to stay in the game. They were down by 12 early in the second half, but had cut the lead to three. They were getting good looks inside — Reneau finished with 27 points and Kel'el Ware had 16 despite foul trouble.

But once again, it wasn't enough. The Hoosiers stayed close, but couldn't finish. And that, Reneau said, is a tough pill to swallow,.

"They had a small guy me the whole game and I was trying to assert my dominance down low and get wide open shots down by the basket,'' Reneau said. "I have no answer really (for what's going on.) It's very difficult as a team, knowing that we've got the talent to do it. We're letting games slip by, and the season slips right by you.

"That's definitely frustrating not closing out games, but there's too many times were we get those big deficits and have to fight our way back. We need to start better.'' 

Indiana is back at home Tuesday night to take on Wisconsin. In the first meeting in Madison, the Badgers won 91-79. 

Woodson took responsibility for the loss. 

"Again, I’m upset with the way we played, the way I’ve coached this team this whole season,'' he said. "We’ve lost more games at home than we’ve lost in the last two years. That’s just not good.

“I’m not happy with how I coached this team. I feel like  I think I can take any team and win with it. I won’t blame my players. I will always put it on Mike Woodson.”