Lisicky leads by example, guiding cagers to victory

Pete Lisicky is not a leader. He'll be the first one to admit it. But during the last two seasons that is exactly what the Penn State men's basketball team has asked him to be.

Last night's 90-81 victory over Ohio State was no different. He was asked to step up and knock down the big 3-pointer when the game was close, he was looked to when the pressure was on to hit three important foul shots and, as usual, he came through.

The senior shooting guard finished with 20 points, six assists and four rebounds. As if that wasn't enough, Lisicky rode each Nittany Lion player's back to get the team back into the game.

The Lions played the first half like their heads were already in Minnesota for tomorrow's game. So, Lisicky walked around pleading with his teammates to get into the game, even though that's not his style.

"I'm not a motivator," Lisicky said. "I don't want to walk around and get people going."

He usually leads by example. This is something he's had to learn to do in the last two years. Last season it looked as if he was the only player on the floor who cared in blue and white. This year he had to take the leadership role again once fellow senior and close friend Dan Earl was injured.

And just like last year, every team Penn State has faced has centered their attack on Lisicky.

"Anybody's game plan has to start with Lisicky," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "He's one of the premiere 3-point shooters in the country."

The Buckeyes decided to cover Lisicky and Joe Crispin and leave the Lions' inside players alone. This created opportunities for the Lion forwards and center Calvin Booth. Forwards Jarrett Stephens and Titus Ivory finished with 22 and 14, respectively, while Booth chipped in with 12.

"Even if (Lisicky) doesn't score," O'Brien said, "he helps the team indirectly."

But scoring is still Lisicky's specialty. He is now fourth all-time on the Penn State scoring list with 1,448 points. He needs 12 points to move into third place.

Last night he showed his usual prowess from beyond the arc, hitting three 3-pointers, but he also demonstrated a new talent in his repertoire -- dunking. With 21 seconds left in the game, he took off long on an in-bounds pass. When no Buckeyes followed, Titus Ivory found him deep and he slammed it down.

"I always take off long," Lisicky said. "They just don't look for me."

Penn State coach Jerry Dunn would like to keep it that way.

"I like his threes more than his dunks," Dunn said. "They count for more."