Monday, Feb. 10, 1997

Turnovers play role in cager loss

By GEOFF MOSHER
Collegian Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With four minutes left in the game, Nittany Lion coach Jerry Dunn called a timeout to discuss his team's inability to stop a Michigan run. The Lions had failed miserably to stop the Wolverine offense and put up points of their own.

Cager Greg Stevensons tries to drive past Wolverine Jerod Ward. The Nittany Lions lost to Michigan 81-64 Saturday at the Crisler Arena. Turnovers and the exceptional play of Michigan's big men cost the Lions another Big Ten victory. (Collegian Photo/Galen A. Lentz - click for full size image)

What was a simple eight-point deficit about a minute earlier had ballooned to 13 thanks to five straight points by Wolverine guard Travis Conlan. Hoping Penn State would give one last ditch effort, a frustrated Dunn called the timeout to prepare for a late comeback.

What he asked his team for was proper ball control and solid defense.

What he got was the exact antithesis.

After Lion forward Jarrett Stephens' driving layup cut the Wolverine lead to 11, Penn State (8-12, 1-10 Big Ten) turned the ball over three consecutive times, which led to six straight Wolverine points en route to an 81-64 blowout here at Crisler Arena.

The critical turnovers led to Wolverine forward Maurice Taylor's baseline jumper and a pair of showtime dunks by Brandun Hughes and Maceo Baston that would make Kobe Bryant proud. The lead inflated to 17 as fast as the Lion turnover count reached 23, and No. 13 Michigan (17-6, 7-4) swept the season series, 2-0.

"Obviously, they are much bigger than us," Dunn said, referring to the dominating Michigan frontcourt of Taylor, 300-pound Robert Traylor and the Wolverine hero of the night, Jerod Ward.

Penn State keyed in on stopping usual Lion-killer Louis Bullock, who ripped the Lions for 23 in their last matchup. Though Penn State held Bullock to just 11 points, the Lion defense struggled with Michigan's bigger men, namely Ward.

Ward hit for a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds, killing the Lions from inside the paint as well as behind the arc.

"Jerod had the best half of his Michigan career," Fisher said. "He was more than a catch-and-shoot basketball player, and I like that."

Despite Ward's exemplary first half, the Lions outplayed the Wolverines in almost every aspect of the game. By halftime, the Lions were shooting more than 60 percent from the floor and had just nine turnovers compared to Michigan's 11. The Wolverines, however, took advantage of their rebounding edge and took a four-point lead into the locker room.

Lion guard Pete Lisicky was solid in the first half, leading the team with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Stephens added six and Rahsaan Carlton put in seven. Few turnovers and high-percentage shots kept the Lions close, but Michigan closed those doors in the second half.

Lisicky only hit 1-of-6 second-half shots. Carlton turned the ball over twice in critical situations. Stephens, who saw double teams for the first time this season, added three turnovers of his own.

Meanwhile, "Tractor" Traylor put a jackknife in the Lion frontcourt, scoring easily down low and finishing with 15 points. The 14 second-half turnovers did the Lions in, drawing up a Wolverine victory and some emotion from Lisicky.

"We were killing ourselves, like we do," Lisicky said, as some tears formed in his eyes. "We really control our own destiny. When you're turning the ball over, that's just going to kill us."