(19) Illinois 62, Iowa 54
The Fighting Illini shot 65 percent from the field in the second half, and Mike Tisdale scored 18 in the win. The Illini were coming off their worst offensive output in 24 years when they lost 59-36 at Minnesota on Thursday. Jeff Peterson led the Hawkeyes with 12 points. The loss for Iowa marks another three game skid, losing six of the last seven, and seven straight on the road. Up next for the Illini is a trip to Madison where the Badgers will look to end a six game losing streak. Iowa will travel to Indiana on Wednesday.
(9) Michigan State 68, Penn State 72
Penn State escaped in East Lansing after another poor performance from the charity stripe. The Nittany Lions, who are the worst free throw shooting team in the Big Ten, missed three straight front ends of 1-1's in the final four minutes and shot 8-17 (47 percent) overall from the line. Talor Battle scored a career-high 29 points in the win, and Jamelle Cornley added 16. Kalin Lucas led the Spartans with 23. With three minutes left and lacking a defensive presence to match up with Cornley, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo put in Raymar Morgan, who is battling walking pneumonia. Michigan State's next contest won't be an easier as Minnesota comes to town on Wednesday. Penn State will travel to Michigan on Thursday.
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I am not shocked by Penn State's victory. After Michigan State's win over Iowa last week, head coach Tom Izzo seemed genuinely concerned about facing Cornley and the pesky Nittany Lions, who have been the surprise team of the Big Ten this season. With Talor Battle and Cornley making for a tough 1-2 tandem, Penn State is definitely a team I wouldn't want to face in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament next month. They are dangerous outside and in the paint and their two most prolific scorers have proven extremely confident and effective in crunch time.
ReplyDeleteThrow a consistent Pringle into the mix and Penn State is as good a contender as the Big Ten has to offer. However, they need to learn to shoot free throws. I believe they were 64 percent from the line as a team going into East Lansing where they shot 5-13 from the line - a very dismal performance.
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