Penn State hangs on to beat Northwestern in bizarre finish

Field Level Media|published: Thu 2nd January, 21:47 2025

Dec 29, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Mike Rhoades looks on from the bench during the first half against the Penn Quakers at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Penn 86-66. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Zach Hicks scored 20 points and Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in 17 as host Penn State nipped visiting Northwestern 84-80 in a controversial Big Ten contest Thursday in University Park, Pa.

The Wildcats trailed by a bucket in the waning seconds, when an inadvertent whistle erased a goaltending call -- and a potential easy putback that would have tied the game. After a review, Northwestern turned it over with another chance to draw even before Baldwin made two free throws to seal it.

Puff Johnson scored 11 points, Fred Dilione V added 10 and Yanic Konan Niederhauser chipped in nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Nittany Lions (12-2, 2-1). Baldwin added seven assists and five steals to complement his 15-of-16 performance from the foul line.

Brooks Barnhizer led Northwestern (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten) with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Nick Martinelli contributed 18 points for the visitors.

Ty Berry gave Northwestern a 75-73 lead with his 3-pointer with roughly five minutes to go, but Penn State responded with seven straight points. Niederhauser's dunk tied the game before Baldwin's transition layup -- his only field goal of the contest -- put the hosts ahead. Hicks' three-point play gave the Nittany Lions an 80-75 lead with 3:05 left.

Northwestern chipped away, and Martinelli's two free throws made it 82-80 with 49 seconds left, setting up the bizarre finish.

Penn State scored the first eight points of the game, including a three-point play by Johnson and a 3-pointer by Hicks, but Northwestern regained its footing relatively quickly and went ahead 14-12.

The Nittany Lions created a bit of separation late in the half, as they moved ahead 36-29 on a dunk by Dilione, but the Wildcats scored five of the last six points to go into the locker room trailing 37-34.

Midway through the second half, the game was tied at 45, 47, 49, 52 and 58 as neither team could shake the other. That theme continued, as there were five more ties down the stretch, the final one coming at 75-75 with 4:35 remaining.

--Field Level Media