By Shawn Myrick
UNIVERSITY PARK – Michigan State head Tom Izzo describe losing as ‘contagious.’ If losing is contagious the Penn State men’s basketball team certainly has caught it.
The Nittany Lions (8-6, 0-12), who were 10-8 in-conference last year, lost their 12th straight Big Ten game to Michigan State (20-6, 10-3) 65-54 in the BJC Saturday.
“It’s not an easy sell everyday when you walk out there and you have not won games,” said Ed DeChellis, Penn State head coach. “When ever we need to make a play, we have not been able to make a play.”
Michigan State’s victory stopped a three game in-conference losing streak for the Spartans.
Juniors Kalin Lucas and Chris Allen led the Spartans in scoring, with 24 and 14 points respectively. Both players shot over 60 percent from the field.
“Our quarterback might have played his best game of the year,” said Izzo referring to Lucas. “He was under control. Out of 15 shots I counted one bad one.
“There were a lot of positive things he did and I thought our team fed off it.”
Penn State trailed most of the game, but was able to keep the game within single digits for the first 33 minutes. Three deep 3-pointers in first half by junior Taylor Battle helped the lions stay in contention early on.
“Sometimes you just are really hot,” said Battle. “It is one of those nights that even when I miss it kind of felt good.”
The Nittany Lions made a 10-3 run with 16:25 left in the second half. A 3-pointer by junior David Jackson would erupt the crowd and give Penn State its first lead since the 10:51 mark in the first half.
“The first ten minutes of the second half we were going towards the basket,” said DeChellis. “We competed, we played really hard and we gave ourselves a chance to win.
“The frustrating part is it goes away.”
The lead would not last for long. Within seconds a jumper by junior Summers Durell tied the score and swing momentum back to the Spartans.
“All of a sudden we went away from doing what we have been doing,” said DeChellis. “They turned up the heat and we did not execute anything we talked about.”
Sophomore Roe Delvon and Durrell would combined for 13 straight points and give the Spartans their first double digit lead, a lead they would hold for the rest of the game.
“That six or seven minute stretch defensively was maybe the best six or seven minutes we have played all year,” said Izzo. “(Durell) was really into the game; defensively even.”
Battle would score 30 total points, six more than the rest of the Lions combined. The junior would go 7-11 from behind the arc and have five rebounds.
“Taylor was outstanding,” said DeChellis. “He kept us in the game and made some big plays. That is the way he has done it all year.”
Despite Battles performance, the Lions were out rebounded 38 to 24.
“We have not been very efficient at (rebounding),” said DeChellis. “(An underneath presence) is part of offense.”
DeChellis also noted a lack of support from both his starters and bench. When asked if he missed recent graduate and past captain Jamelle Cornley, DeChellis was blunt.
“Uh huh,” said DeChellis. “And (Stanley) Pringle.”
Cornley and Pringle were second and third on lions in scoring last year, with 14.4 and 12.8 ppg respectively.
