STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — In a matchup between two Pennsylvania schools, turnovers were the keystone.
On Saturday, Penn men’s basketball fell to in-state rival Penn State 86-66 in the Quakers’ final game of non-conference play. Despite trailing by just three points at halftime, the Red and Blue (4-9) committed 11 of their season-high 17 turnovers in the second half, giving way to a barrage from the Nittany Lions (11-2) that Penn could not survive.
“The first half was great,” coach Steve Donahue said. “Didn’t let them lob over top of us, kept them in front of us. … It was perfect. I think [our] offense was so poor with the ball that [Penn State] just got the ball going, and that’s how they win.”
Penn’s turnover troubles were exacerbated by the absence of junior guard Ethan Roberts, who sat out due to illness. In Roberts’ absence, freshman guard AJ Levine made his first career start, spearheading a Quakers front that held its own against a Power Four opponent.
Prior to the season, Donahue stressed the importance of the Quakers having “a bar fighter’s mentality” on the defensive end, and that mindset was evident in the first half against the Nittany Lions. Penn defended well in the early going — challenging shots and clogging passing lanes to fuel a 20-17 advantage.
Penn State shot just 37.5% from the field in the first half, including a 0-for-9 clip from beyond the arc. The Quakers’ own 33.33% field goal shooting clip prevented them from building a substantial lead, but timely baskets from shooters like junior guard/forward Michael Zanoni, who finished with a career-high 27 points, helped the Quakers head to halftime trailing just 34-31.
“I think for the most part, when we got the chance to set our defense, it was good,” Donahue said. “When we take care of the ball and get our defense set, I think we can be a very good defensive team.”
“We didn’t play great in the first half,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades, who moved to 400 career wins with the victory, said. “Penn had a lot to do with it.”
But after struggling to score early, the Nittany Lions began to puncture Penn’s defensive front in the second half, scoring 20 of their first 24 points of the half in the paint. Many of those baskets came in transition, and more still came off Quakers’ turnovers.
The Nittany Lions, who rank second in the nation in forced turnovers, repeatedly pounced on the ball after halftime — racking up 11 takeaways that led to 17 points for Penn State. Senior forward/center Nick Spinoso finished the game with nine turnovers of his own, including a pair of travels. Over the course of the period, the Quakers’ inability to take care of the ball became insurmountable, stifling their offense and hindering their defense in a way that allowed the Nittany Lions to steadily pull away.
With six-and-a-half minutes left to play, Penn State guard/forward Puff Johnson punctuated the run with a three-pointer — the Nittany Lions’ first of the game — to put Penn State ahead by 21, its largest lead of the game to that point and one it would not relinquish.
“We had a string of turnovers — that’s just what they [Penn State] do,” Donahue said. “I think in our league, we should be able to take care of the ball and guard like you saw in the first half.”
With the loss, the Quakers conclude non-conference play with a losing record for just the second time since 2016. But Donahue believes his team is prepared for Ivy League play, which he called “a different challenge” compared to teams like the Nittany Lions.
“I’ve been pleased with the toughness and the understanding of what it’s gonna take, but now you gotta do that in the league,” Donahue said. “The league’s so different. … It’s tactical, its toughness mentally, it’s not the athleticism and length that we’re typically playing in the non-league. But it’s a different type of challenge, and you gotta be ready for that.”
The Quakers return in the new year with their first Ancient Eight matchup at Dartmouth on Jan. 11.
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