Free throws decide game in cager win

By KEVIN GORMAN
Collegian Sports Writer

Glenn Sekunda said he had all the confidence in the world in his foul shot. In the waning moments of the men's basketball team's game against Ohio State last night, he needed it.

Sekunda, a junior power forward, sank four free throws in the final 18.6 seconds to lead the Nittany Lions (16-9, 8-8 Big Ten) to a 75-68 victory over the Buckeyes (6-20, 2-14) at Rec Hall.

The scoreboard clock indicated that the Lions held a 17-point lead over Ohio State after freshman guard Pete Lisicky sank both ends of a one-on-one free-throw opportunity with four minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the second half.

From that point, time seemed to stand still. The visiting Buckeyes dwindled the margin to five points with full-court pressure that forced the Nittany Lions to the free-throw line on six consecutive possessions in the next 3:12.

"Toward the end of the game, it got a little sloppy," Sekunda said. "That slowed the whole pace of the game down. While we were shooting all those free throws, I was looking up at the clock and it didn't seem like it was moving."

The Lions converted only 5-of-10 free throws in that three-minute span.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes capitalized on Penn State's defensive breakdowns with a 15-3 run highlighted by three Rickey Dudley layups and capped by Doug Etzler's three-pointer with one minute left.

The Lions almost succumbed to the pressure.

On the next possession, Sekunda received the inbounds pass under the basket, but missed a layup. It was rebounded by center John Amaechi, who attempted a follow-up but was called for a jump ball.

The margin would have been sliced to two had Etzler nailed a trey in transition, but his shot --and the Buckeyes' chance for victory -- spun around the rim quickly and popped out.

"We have to knock the free throw down and play tough defense -- which we didn't always do," said point guard Dan Earl, who admitted: "It's a little scary to know the lead could have been cut down to two."

Etzler's final shot seemed to be the only one that didn't get the kind roll. The 6-foot senior point guard led all scorers with 29 points. Sekunda led the Lions with 17 points, Earl tied his season high with 16 and Rahsaan Carlton added 12.

"I thought (Penn State) did a good job of executing what they had to do," Buckeye Coach Randy Ayers said. "They got some easy baskets -- some second shot opportunities -- and you just can't allow the home team to do that."

Beginning with a Pete Lisicky three-pointer at 7:16 in the first half, the Lions used a 9-0 run that included Sekunda's smooth bank shot, a layup and two free throws for a 12-point lead at 4:02. At halftime, Penn State led, 35-27.

In the second half, it was Earl's three-pointer that started a 7-0 run for a 45-32 lead. A Lisicky trey boosted the lead to 14 at 10:23, 52-38. The three-point shot became the Lions' deadliest weapon, as they shot 6-for-15 from behind the arc and converted all three attempts in the second half.

But it was the foul line that was their crutch. Although the Lions converted 17-of-23 from the line (73.9 percent), it was the crucial free throws that were missed.

Amaechi, who finished with four points and four rebounds in 23 minutes, and Greg Bartram missed back-to-back front end shots of one-and-one opportunities. Then Sekunda, Lisicky and Bartram each missed the first of two shots in two-shot fouls.

"I thought that was not very characteristic of our team. We're usually a very good free-throw shooting team," Sekunda said. "I've been shooting fairly well from the free-throw line this year, and I have all the confidence in the world in my foul shot."

Lisicky then sank a pair with 32.6 seconds remaining for a 71-64 lead and Sekunda sealed the win with four in a row.

OHIO STATE (6-20)

Yudt 3-6 1-2 8, Dudley 6-13 1-2 13, Watson 4-8 1-3 9, Etzler 13-22 0-0 29, Winston 2-3 0-0 4, Lumpkin 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 1-1 0-0 2, Jantonio 0-2 0-1 0, Martin 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 30-58 3-8 68.

PENN STATE (16-9)

Carlton 6-10 0-1 12, Sekunda 5-10 7-8 17, Amaechi 2-5 0-1 4, Earl 6-9 0-0 16, D. Williams 1-4 0-0 2, Lisicky 2-5 7-8 13, P. Williams 2-2 0-0 4, Bartram 1-2 3-5 5, Joseph 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 26-52 17-23 75.

Halftime--Penn State 35, Ohio State 27. 3-Point goals--Ohio State 5-15 (Yudt 1-3, Etzler 3-9, Jantonio 0-1, Martin 1-2). Penn State 6-15 (Carlton 0-2, Earl 4-7, Lisicky 2-5, Bartram 0-1). Fouled out--Dudley. Rebounds--Ohio State 31 (Dudley 8), Penn State 29 (Earl 6). Assists--Ohio State 12 (Etzler, Winston, Martin 3), Penn State 15 (Earl, Sekunda, Amaechi 3). Total fouls--Ohio State 21, Penn State 13.