Ohio State Falters Down the Stretch in Back-and-Forth Game Against Penn State

The Ohio State Buckeyes were the closest to victory against the Penn State Nittany Lions Thursday as they've been in any loss during their nine-game losing streak.

Just when the Ohio State Buckeyes thought they were out — of a losing streak — they were pulled back in.

Ohio State (11-17, 3-14 Big Ten) couldn't contain guard Jalen Pickett in the second half as it lost its ninth-straight game 75-71 to the Penn State Nittany Lions (17-11, 8-9 Big Ten) at Value City Arena Thursday.

Pickett, who entered play scoring 41 and 32 points in his last two games, respectively, was held in check early. He grabbed his second foul at the 13:54 mark and had to take a nearly six-minute seat without a point scored to that point.

He turned it on in the second half.

After just two first-half points, he notched 21 in the second half, as his game-high 23 points marked his 12th game this season with at least 20 points.

He gave Penn State a 66-65 lead with 5:49 to go in the second half — a lead the Nittany Lions wouldn't relinquish — as he scored each of their final 14 points of the game capped off by a pair of free throws to take a four-point lead with 28 seconds to go.

Ohio State had five 3-point looks in the final 20 seconds and missed them all. That was a stark contrast to Penn State which made 10-for-19, setting its single-season program record for 3-pointers in a season.

Penn State opened the second half shooting 4 of 5 from the field, but the Buckeyes hung tough at a 4-for-7 clip themselves to hold it at a 48-46 game with 15:53 to go in the final 20-minute period.

The Nittany Lions lengthened to their largest lead of the second half at six points with 13:59 to go, but the Buckeyes battled right back with an 8-0 run to take their first lead since 3:14 to go in the first half.

Both teams came out shooting to begin the game, as the Nittany Lions grabbed an early 15-12 lead in the first six minutes thanks to a 4-for-6 start from deep — two from guards Seth Lundy and Camren Wynter, respectively. 

Lundy had 19 and Wynter had 18 points.

The Buckeyes — who started four freshmen for the second-consecutive game — leaned on them in early, as guard Bruce Thornton drained two of Ohio State's first three made 3-pointers.

Ohio State took a 24-23 lead with 7:57 left in the first half thanks to a 3:12 stretch in which it went 5 of 6 from the floor. Penn State went cold during that stretch missing four-straight field goal attempts.

Forward Brice Sensabaugh carried the load offensively for the Buckeyes, finishing contested shots en route to 14 first-half points on a 5-for-7 shooting mark from the floor. He finished with 20 points on 8-of-14 from the field — the first time he has eclipsed the 20-point mark since Jan. 28 against the Indiana Hoosiers.

Thornton added 19 points.

As fast as the two teams raced to a 37-37 tie, both sides went without a point for the final 2:09 of the first half as Penn State shot 46 percent from the floor to Ohio State's 52 percent.

Ohio State outrebounded Penn State 33-24, while only committing one turnover.

The Buckeyes are back at home Sunday at noon against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

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