Win streak
Cagers win second straight

By MICHAEL LELLO
Collegian Staff Writer

After losing 10 of 11 Big Ten games, the Penn State men's basketball team fought off a late Michigan run to win its second straight conference game, beating the Wolverines 78-72 last night at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Penn State defeated then-No. 17 Purdue, 78-70, last Saturday.

The victory against Michigan was a landmark of sorts for the Nittany Lions. It was the first time they beat the Wolverines at Crisler and the first time they swept a regular season series from the Wolverines.

"This is a great win for us," Lion coach Jerry Dunn told the Penn State Radio Network. "We built on what we did at Purdue. The guys did what they needed when the game was close."

The Nittany Lions (12-13, 4-11 Big Ten) controlled the game for most of the evening, jumping out to a 45-35 halftime lead before Michigan (10-18, 4-11) opened the second half with a 7-0 run. The Wolverines pulled within two, but couldn't manage to tie the game.

The Lions were led by center Calvin Booth, who notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He also blocked three shots.

Joe Crispin scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half while battling an illness, and Greg Grays added 12 off the bench. It was the fourth straight game Grays has finished in double figures.

Carl Jackson continued to be a key to the Lions' recent success in his second straight start over a struggling Gyasi Cline-Heard, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds, both career highs. His previous career-high, eight points, came against Purdue last Saturday.

"The better he plays, the more confidence he's going to have," Dunn said. "Not only has he done the job physically, but mentally. He's been the difference."

Dan Earl added nine points, all coming on 3-point shots.

Michigan's Louis Bullock led all scorers with 25 points and broke former Lion Pete Lisicky's Big Ten record for career 3-pointers with 332.

The Lions controlled the glass, out-rebounding Michigan 36-28, including 17 offensive boards. The Wolverines out-shot the Lions, hitting 48 percent from the field while the Lions made 41 percent of their 70 shots from the field.

In winning its final road game of the regular season, the Lions moved into a ninth place tie with Michigan.

Because the Lions have swept the Wolverines, however, they would be the No. 8 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and would face Northwestern in the first round. The tournament begins next Thursday in Chicago.

First, the Lions must finish their regular season against Ohio State Saturday at The Bryce Jordan Center.

"We feel really good," Jackson said. "We're playing well and hitting the boards. A lot of guys stepped it up. In these past two games we've been making plays after plays."