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FightOnState.com: Lions Lose to A&M;

Two very different views were presented in the Jordan Center media room after Texas A&M; overcame a 17-point, second-half deficit to beat Penn State Sunday afternoon.

The Aggies felt they stepped up their defense and intensity to come from behind to beat the Nittany Lions, 62-60, and in doing so improve to 11-0 on the season.

“I think we wanted it more in the second half,” said forward Antoine Wright, who matched teammate Acie Law for game-high scoring honors with 19 points. Law did him one better, though, tallying the game-winners on a pair of free throws with 11.4 seconds remaining.

The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, believed their own inept play — particularly in the final 10 minutes — caused them to come from ahead to lose, dipping to 6-7 heading into Wednesday’s Big Ten opener against Michigan State at the BJC.

“It’s plain and simple,” said junior forward Aaron Johnson, whose seventh double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) led Penn State in both departments. “With 10 minutes left, we just collapsed.”

The more accurate account of the game, of course, can be found somewhere in the middle.

Nittany Lion Basketball Team Drops 62-60 Heartbreaker to Undefeated Texas A&M;:

“State College, Pa. – Jan. 2, 2005 – Texas A&M; outscored Penn State 10-3 over the game’s final 5:37 to steal a hard-fought 62-60 win from the Nittany Lions in Penn State’s final non-conference game of the year. Penn State let a 17-point second half lead slip away despite 16 points and 12 rebounds from junior Aaron Johnson (Exton, Pa.)”

Texas A&M; vs Penn State (1/2/05 at State College, Pa.):

“Official Basketball Box Score

Texas A&M; vs Penn State

1/2/05 1:00 p.m. at State College, Pa.”

HoustonChronicle.com – Today’s Games:

“Texas A&M; at Penn State

• When/where: Noon; University Park, Pa.
  
• Radio: KPRC (950 AM).
  
• Records: Texas A&M; 10-0; Penn State 6-6.
  
• Texas A&M; update: The Aggies go on the road for the first time and, while the Nittany Lions don’t present the toughest of challenges, Penn State clearly brings more talent than Trinity, Texas-Permian Basin, Prairie View A&M;, Chicago State and Grambling. The road gets tougher after today – the Aggies’ next game is a visit to No. 2 Kansas on Wednesday.
  
• Penn State update: Among the teams to beat the Nittany Lions are South Carolina State, Valparaiso and Buffalo. Second-year coach Ed DeChellis led Penn State to a 9-19 record last season after the team won seven games each of the two preceding seasons.”

Centre Daily Times | 01/02/2005 | Nittany Lions look for consistency against Texas A&M;:

“On Tuesday, Penn State trailed by 19 points at halftime. On Wednesday, it led by 19 at the half.

“On Tuesday, the Nittany Lions were outshot 51 percent-33 percent. On Wednesday, they outshot their opponents 50 percent-30 percent.

“On Tuesday, Marlon Smith scored a season-low two points. On Wednesday, he had a career-high 33.

“And so it went for Penn State during a wacky two days in Arizona. The result was one loss, one win and even more questions about what was already an erratic young team. The most pressing: Which team will show up when the Nittany Lions (6-6) play host to Texas A&M; at 1 p.m. today?”

FightOnState.com: Hoop Preview – Texas A&M;:

“Penn State Notes:

“* Point man Walker missed the LIU game with a case of the flu. But Ben Luber played extremely well in his absence, coming through with 10 points and 11 assists. This is shaping up to be PSU’s best one-two punch at the point since Joe Crispin and Brandon Watkins in 2000-01.”

FightOnState.com: Holiday Column:

“In his first opinion piece for Fight On State, editor and co-publisher Mark Brennan catches up with Jamaal Tate, the Nittany Lion basketball player who overcame alcohol dependency issues to rejoin the program.

“Ah, New Year’s Eve. A time to reflect on the year that was. A time to project to the year that will be. A time to share a few drinks and celebrate the holiday.

And the perfect time to honor one of the least likely – yet most effective – role models at Penn State.

“He is 22 years old, ancient compared to the other athletes on the Nittany Lion basketball team. He carries too much weight, too many tattoos and not enough hair. Hell, he doesn’t even play ball anymore.

” ‘To make myself feel better, I say my metabolism slowed down,’ he explained with a smile when asked about his thick build. ‘I’m 50 pounds heavier than the last time I played.’

“And he’s an alcoholic, albeit of the recovering variety.

“Meet Jamaal Tate, perhaps the most important member of Coach Ed DeChellis’ program. This even though he surrendered his roster spot recently to focus on graduating (in August) while keeping his disease in check. “

Centre Daily Times | 12/30/2004 | Smith’s career high leads Nittany Lions to victory:

“Maybe Tuesday’s loss to Valparaiso stung Marlon Smith and Ben Luber a little more than the rest of the Nittany Lions.

“Maybe they just got tired of hearing about Penn State’s freshmen.

“Smith rebounded from a dismal game with a career-high 33 points Wednesday, and Luber played an outstanding floor game as the Nittany Lions (6-6) snapped a four-game losing streak with a dominating 80-56 defeat of Long Island in the consolation game of the ASU/azcentral.com Hoops Classic at Wells Fargo Arena.”

FightOnState.com: Hoop Preview : Long Island:

“Penn State Notes:

“* The Lions trailed by as many as 24 points against Valpo before rallying late to save a bit of face. Thirteen first-half turnovers and a 4-of-20 shooting performance in the opening period did PSU in against the Crusaders. Said DeChellis: ‘We were just awful in every sense.’ …”

Centre Daily Times | 12/29/2004 | Crusaders cruise to victory over Nittany Lions:

“Starting strong hasn’t been a strength for the Nittany Lions this season, but

Penn State took it to a whole new level Tuesday.

“The Nittany Lions had 15 points and 13 turnovers in the first half, spotted Valparaiso a 24-point lead early in the second and couldn’t recover, falling to the Crusaders 69-56 in the first round of the ASU/azcentral.com Hoops Classic at Wells Fargo Arena.

“Penn State will play Long Island, a 92-63 loser to Arizona State, at 6:30 p.m. today in the consolation game.

“Penn State (5-6) lost its fourth straight game and fell to 2-5 away from the Bryce Jordan Center. The Nittany Lions hit their first two shots, then finished the half 2-of-18 and trailed 34-15 at halftime.

“Behind a spirited effort from freshman forward Geary Claxton, who scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, Penn State picked up its intensity in the second half and got as close as nine on two occasions, but couldn’t come back from its largest deficit of the season.”