Tuesday, March 17, 1998
The downing of Dayton
Cagers advance in NIT
By MATT DIFEBOCollegian Sports Writer
DAYTON, Ohio -- As his nature suggests, Nittany Lion center Calvin
Booth doesn't get ticked that easily.
Bring on your Robert Traylors or your Brad Millers, because Booth
is still going to be his quiet, reserved self. But last night
with the hostile environment and the Lions' postseason existence
on the line, Booth's serene demeanor contorted into a maniacal
star.
"I think someone made him mad," said Lion coach Jerry
Dunn.
Lion center Calvin Booth dunks the ball during a game earlier this season. Booth tallied a triple double while blocking 10 shots during last night’s NIT game against Dayton to help Penn State to a 77-74 victory. (Collegian Photo/Wendy L. Zeller - click for full size image)
As for Booth, his play did not go unnoticed by Dunn.
"He's becoming more aggressive," Dunn said. "He
has really grown up this year."
A scary thought considering Booth is already 6-foot-11, but his
blocked-shot tally set a University of Dayton Arena record and
tied a Penn State total. He blocked five shots in each half.
"I was disappointed with how I played in the second half,"
Booth said. "I missed some easy layups and chip shots. I
was just glad we got the win"
While Booth and Pete Lisicky's team-high 21 points were the keys
to Penn State's win, the Flyers relied more on their inside game
and especially the crowd
"It was tough keeping their guys off the boards," Dunn
said. "They're a very good team. They're quick and athletic.
We knew this would be a tough place to play. I've never seen anything
like it."
From the outset, the crowd and the Flyers pounded the ball inside
to jump out to a 9-2 lead. With the Flyers leading 15-6 at the
13:26 mark, the Lions went on a 15-2 run led by Lisicky, who scored
seven points in two minutes, to take a 21-17 lead.
But the crowd and the Flyers never gave up.
"The players and the coaches love playing in this arena,"
said Flyer coach Oliver Purnell. "It will be one of the toughest
places to play next year thanks to all the Flyer faithful"
And thanks to Ryan Perryman, who scored eight points in an 11-3
second-half run, the Flyers took a 10-lead, their biggest of the
game. Perryman finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
With the score tied at 71 with 2:36 left, Jarrett Stephens hit
an inside shot to take the lead. On the Lions' next possession,
Stephens lobbed a shot in on an almost perfect entry pass from
Lisicky with four seconds on the shot clock.
With about 16 seconds left, Flyer guard Tony Stanley lost the
ball out of bounds due to good defense by Lion forward Titus Ivory.
"It was great to get to win on the road," Lisicky said.
"This is a real tough team at home. Everybody had to step
it up and they did."
