“UNIVERSITY PARK — Mike Walker trotted to the Penn State bench and sat down dejectedly. Assistant coach James Johnson patted Walker’s knee, but the usually upbeat freshman would not be consoled, shaking his head and staring into space.
“Moments later, Geary Claxton, the Nittany Lions’ unflappable Freshman-of-the-Year candidate, could be seen mouthing ‘Oh, my God’ as he headed back up the floor following a call that didn’t go his way.
“Frustration is mounting upon frustration in Happy Valley, and it reached a new apex Saturday as Penn State spotted Iowa a 27-point halftime advantage, eventually falling 78-56 on a subdued Senior Day at the Bryce Jordan Center.
“The Nittany Lions (7-20, 1-13 Big Ten) lost their ninth straight game, this one to a group of Hawkeyes (17-10, 5-9) that hadn’t won a conference road game all season.
“Guards Adam Haluska and Jeff Horner, Penn State’s primary points of focus in practices this week, scored 22 and 19 points, respectively, many of them in transition — the Nittany Lions’ other focus.
“‘We really didn’t execute the things we talked about needing to execute,’ Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said, ‘and I think that’s the most disappointing thing to me.’ …”