One point loss for Penn State
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - March 13, 2008 Penn State's Talor Battle had a final shot, but his long
3-pointer bounced off the backboard to give the Fighting Illini the
victory.
Brian Randle led Illinois (14-18) with 17 points. Trent Meacham
scored 14 points, and Shaun Pruitt had 10 points and 11 rebounds
for the 10th-seeded Illini.
Battle led Penn State (15-16) with 17 points, seven rebounds and
five assists, and Stanley Pringle added 13 points for the
seventh-seeded Nittany Lions.
Illinois avoided its first-ever first-round loss. The Illini
have won three of four heading into Friday's quarterfinal matchup
with Purdue.
Pringle made a 3-pointer to cut Illinois' lead to 45-44 with
about 15 minutes to play, but a 3-pointer by Frazier and a 3-point
play by Randle pushed the lead back to 51-44.
A 3-pointer by Penn State's Danny Morrissey cut Illinois' lead
to 56-52, but the Illini again bounced back. A pair of free throws
by Randle, a layup by Demetri McCarney and a pair of free throws by
Pruitt made it 62-52 with just under five minutes to play.
Penn State stormed back, and a layup by David Jackson cut
Illinois' lead to 62-59.
Randle fouled out while defending Battle on a drive, and Battle
made both free throws to make it 62-61. The Nittany Lions finally
took their first lead of the second half on two free throws by
Andrew Jones with 2:04 to play.
Frazier's winning basket was Illinois' first in nearly six
minutes, and the Illini's first points since the 4:53 mark.
Illinois led 20-17 in the first half before going on an 8-0 run,
including a 3-point play by Pruitt and a 3-pointer by Calvin Brock,
to take a 28-17 lead.
Penn State chipped away the rest of the half. Battle's runner
banked in as time ran out in the first half to cut Illinois' lead
to 39-37.
The teams combined to make 11 of 19 3-pointers in the first
half. Penn State shot 58 percent before the break, but trailed
because Illinois had a 7-2 advantage at the free-throw line.
Penn State had won three of four, including an upset over No. 18
Indiana on Sunday. The Nittany Lions won both regular-season games
against Illinois by a combined five points.
Illinois beat Penn State 66-60 in the first round last year.
