Penn State Routed by Wisconsin at Rec Hall, Extends Losing Streak to Six
There was hope that a change of scenery might snap Penn State out of its funk. The Nittany Lions, mired in a five-game losing streak heading into Thursday night, returned to their old stomping grounds at Rec Hall-where the program has pulled off some magic in recent years.
But this time, the only thing that changed was the location. The result?
Another lopsided loss, this one a 98-71 dismantling at the hands of Wisconsin.
It was Penn State’s third straight year hosting a Big Ten opponent at Rec Hall, and the setting had previously delivered some spark-like the upset of then-No. 12 Illinois two seasons ago.
But the intimate 6,500-seat gym couldn’t provide the jolt the Nittany Lions desperately needed. By the under-8 timeout in the second half, the bleachers were already thinning out, the game well out of reach.
Penn State now sits at 9-10 overall and 0-8 in Big Ten play, with this loss marking their fourth defeat by 23 points or more this season. Only a 41-point blowout at Indiana in early December ranks worse in conference play. Wisconsin, meanwhile, improves to 14-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten, looking every bit the well-oiled machine they’ve been building into.
A Familiar Script for the Nittany Lions
For the second straight game, Penn State found itself in a double-digit hole early-and this time, there was no Diggy Coit-style explosion from the opposing side. Wisconsin didn’t need a singular star to take over. Instead, they executed with surgical precision and shared the load.
The turning point came midway through the first half when Wisconsin strung together a 16-2 run, with five different players contributing. Braeden Carrington, who came in averaging just 6.5 points per game, scored six during that stretch and finished with 17-all in the first half. He barely needed to break a sweat in the second, playing just five minutes after halftime.
The Badgers outscored Penn State 30-4 from the 11:25 mark to 3:12 in the first half, including separate 13-0 and 14-0 runs. During that brutal stretch, the Nittany Lions went scoreless for nearly eight combined minutes.
By the time Carrington buried a deep three to make it 50-22, the game was essentially over. And unlike their second-half push against Maryland last weekend, there was no rally in sight this time.
Balanced Badgers, Stalled Lions
Wisconsin shot 50.7% from the field and knocked down 42.9% of their threes, but it was their ball movement that really stood out. They racked up 25 assists on 36 made shots-a stat that speaks volumes about how well they shared the ball and found open looks.
Josh Blackwell and Carrington led the scoring with 17 points apiece, while Nolan Winter (13) and Nick Boyd (11) also hit double figures. Head coach Greg Gard was able to go deep into his bench by the midway point of the second half.
Penn State, on the other hand, struggled to find rhythm offensively. Josh Reed was the bright spot, finishing with 18 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
He also added six boards. Freddie Dilione, still dealing with an ankle injury that limited him Sunday at Maryland, added 17 points.
Mason Blackwood chipped in 14 late, but the overall shooting numbers told the story-just 35.9% from the field and 29.6% from three.
Dilione and Kayden Mingo combined to shoot 9-of-31, including 3-of-13 from deep. Ivan Jurić, who had shown flashes earlier this month, was held scoreless deep into the second half before finishing with five points and 12 rebounds.
Lineup Notes and Injuries
Head coach Mike Rhoades stuck with the same starting five-Mingo, Kanye Clary, Leo O’Boyle, Reed, and Jurić-for the second straight game. Dilione, Saša Ciani, and Blackwood were among the first off the bench. Guard Melih Tunca also saw first-half action, while forward Justin Houser made his seventh appearance of the season in the second half.
Forward Tibor Mirtič missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury, and freshman guard Reggie Grodin remains sidelined for the season as a redshirt.
What’s Next
The Nittany Lions will look to regroup on the road Monday night when they travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
ET on FS1. The Buckeyes, currently 13-5 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play, will first face No.
3 Michigan on Friday night.
At 0-8 in conference play and still searching for their first win against a high-major opponent, Penn State is running out of time to turn things around. The effort is there in stretches, but the consistency-and the results-remain elusive.