No. 17 Illinois falls to Penn State

CHAMPAIGN, Sick. — Andrew Funk and Myles Dread mixed for 11 three-pointers to provide Penn State a 74-59 win over No. 17 Illinois on Saturday. 

Funk and Jalen Pickett led all scorers with 20 factors every, Seth Lundy added 16 and Dread had 15 to provide the Nittany Lions (7-3, 1-1 Huge Ten) notched their first highway Huge Ten win in opposition to a top-20 staff since beating No. 16 Michigan State in 2020.

“There’s not many individuals which are going to return in right here and win,” Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry stated. “You put together for a sport like this, you see their expertise, you see how laborious they play. This crowd, how concerned they’re, the ambiance, this can be a powerful place to play.”

Matthew Mayer led Illinois (7-3, 0-2) with 14 factors, all within the first half.

“Put it in daring, rattling print: management, lack of (it),” Illinois coach Brad Underwood stated. “And no effort. That’s what occurs on this league when you might have none of that.”

Penn State shot 50% from lengthy distance general, and hit 6 of 9 threes within the first half. Funk made one other three to increase the result in double digits on the opening possession out of the break.

However Illinois strung collectively a 8-0 run and held Penn State scoreless for about 5 minutes to drag nearer at 52-47. Then Funk hit back-to-back threes — together with one off an inbound go — and Dread knocked down one other in a span of 64 seconds to push the result in 14 factors at 61-47. 

By then, the almost sold-out crowd had devolved from intense enthusiasm to flustered discontent, after which shocked silence.

“It is a win that we’re going to look again on this and (use) this blueprint as one thing we are able to look again on to see how we did it,” stated Funk, who added another three to make it a 74-56 sport with 3:51 left.

Mayer hit his first three photographs for Illinois, and Penn State knocked down its first three threes of the sport in a primary half that had eight lead adjustments and 6 ties.

PERIMETER PRECISION 

Saturday was the second time Funk and Dread have every made not less than 5 threes in a sport this season. The primary time was in a two-point loss to Virginia Tech in November.

The distinction: Penn State restricted itself to 9 turnovers Saturday, as a substitute of 14 in opposition to the Hokies, and restricted the Illini to 12 factors off turnovers.

Funk has helped the Nittany Lions common greater than 11.5 made threes per sport since transferring from Bucknell. 

LACKING LEADERSHIP 

Underwood didn’t maintain again about his disappointment within the sport, which got here after a nationally televised OT win over No. 2 Texas on Tuesday at Madison Sq. Backyard. 

He stated that after the sport, he learn the staff a textual content from former Illini Trent Frazier, who’s enjoying basketball professionally in Serbia. Underwood implied the textual content was too expletive-laden to share publicly.

“(Frazier) is main from Serbia,” Underwood stated. “Day by day guys, day by day. It’s not about having the media and everybody else kiss their butt while you play in Madison Sq. Backyard and beat a superb staff.”

BIG PICTURE

Penn State: An additional time loss at Clemson and a defeat to Michigan State had been hardly causes to low cost the Nittany Lions from doing a little injury within the Huge Ten this 12 months. Micah Shrewsberry’s skilled group was composed and located loads of open photographs in opposition to the usually formidable Illinois protection.

Illinois: Brad Underwood’s groups normally don’t fall into traditional trap-game situations, however the Illini did simply that. 

UP NEXT

Penn State: Hosts Canisius on Dec. 18.

Illinois: Hosts Alabama A&M subsequent Saturday.