For the forth straight game Penn State gave a Top 25 team all they could handle and for the second straight game came up just short of pulling off another upset. JaJuan Johnson ended the NittanyLion's hopes drilling a deep 2 point jumper with 3 seconds to go to give the Boilermakers a 63-62 win to add to his 25 point All-American like night.
For the Nittany Lions it was a tail of the turnover. Penn State's 13 turnovers, most of which were unforced cost the NIttanyLions a chance to move to 4-3 in the Big Ten. Penn State struggled to find any scoring off the bench and actually didn't see a single point scored by anyone other than the starting five, a problem that has haunted Penn State for the entire season.
As far as Prudue was concerned it was a night to remember for JuJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore who combined for 41 points and controlled the Nittany Lions in critical junctures of the game showing the rest of the Big Ten why they may be one of the most explosive duos in the conference.
Oddly enough Penn State shot over 50% from the field, hit the same number of 3 pointers (6) as Purdue, made every free throw, and grabbed 12 more rebounds than the Boilermakers and still lost. While Penn State falls to 10-8 on the season there seems to be plenty of positives the NittanyLions can build on starting with a 2 game home stand against Iowa and Wisconsin. Games like these are often why the little things become more and more important as the 13 turnovers will haunt Ed DeChellis in his sleep for the rest of the year.
Purdue moves on to 5-1 in the Big Ten and plays Michigan State at home this Saturday. Penn State falls to 3-4 and plays Iowa next Wendsday at home and will look to rebound against less stiff competition.