Monday, Feb. 17, 1997

Battle weary Lisicky excels quietly for Lions

By GEOFF MOSHER
Collegian Sports Writer

For Nittany Lion shooting guard Pete Lisicky, everything fell right into place Saturday.

Pete Lisicky
Nittany Lion shooting guard (Courtesy of Penn State)

Before the Northwestern game he was acknowledged for scoring his 1,000th point against Indiana last week. During the game, it seemed as if he could score a thousand more. And seconds before the Lions closed out their second Big Ten win of the season, Lisicky hit two free throws, extending his streak to 33 consecutive made free throws and breaking the old Penn State record shared by Jim Forjan and Craig Collins.

All that despite the tugging, harassing, molesting and badgering that Northwestern defenders -- like all the others in the Big Ten -- could do to shake up the deadly shooter.

"What were they doing to you out there, Pete?" someone asked.

"Whatever anyone else does," Lisicky answered dryly. For Lisicky, this season has been a war. A war against opponents. A war against the Big Ten. A war against the referees.

"I tuck in my shirt after every possession," he added, alluding to the fact he's bothered on nearly every drive but went to the line just three times Saturday.

When it comes to fouls, Lisicky gets as much respect as Rodney Dangerfield. In Penn State's five home conference games this season, Lisicky has gone to the line just 10 times.

More coverage of the Nittany Lion basketball game

Yesterday, his shirt was pulled out of his pants at least 10 times.

But fouls didn't stop Lisicky from having a spectacular first half. Without the services of Jarrett Stephens, Lisicky once again became Penn State's only real scoring threat.

By the end of the first half, Lisicky led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 5-of-6 from behind the arc. His four-point play with 3:19 left in the first half -- which he converted with a free throw after getting fouled by Jevon Johnson after nailing a 3-pointer from the right corner -- gave the Lions a four-point lead and the momentum. Another Lisicky trey, just 1:17 later, put the Lions up seven.

"We lost him on some plays in the first half," Northwestern coach Ricky Byrdsong said.

But the Lions revealed how one dimensional they are in the second half as Lisicky's slow start aided Northwestern's comeback. After a sizzling first half, Lisicky simmered down and missed his first four shots.

As the Lion offense went stagnant, Northwestern made its move. The Wildcats brought a nine-point deficit down to four before Lisicky made his first jumper of the second half with 5:12 left in the game, putting the Lions back up six.

Northwestern kept steady with the Lions for the next three minutes. Lisicky's two free throws, the record-tying and breaking ones, gave him his 21 and 22 points and put Northwestern away for good.

Just the way anyone would expect Lisicky to end his afternoon.