Things weren't going their way, and the Penn State students were getting angry.

They felt disrespected and would not give up without a fight.

They yelled and cheered and were more animated than they had been all year. Too bad their backs were turned to the Bryce Jordan Center floor.

During Penn State's dismal 75-55 loss to Iowa last night, the biggest fight put up by a student, athlete or otherwise, was in the stands after sign after sign calling for the firing of Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn was confiscated.

The Nittany Lions (5-14, 0-8 Big Ten), who have ranged from competitive to very good at home this season, just didn't have it. And, man, did it show.

The Hawkeyes (12-6, 4-3) used a 17-2 run over the last eight minutes of action to put the game out of reach and turn an on-edge Jordan Center into a morgue.

"We had good shots and didn't make them. I can't say I've ever been a part of a team that shoots this poorly," Dunn said. "In the past we've always been able to score."

The Lions shot 29 percent for the game, including a paltry 11-42 in the first half, and only 53 percent from the free throw line. Even so, Penn State was down just two, 30-28, at the half. A fan sitting in his seat at half-time had to be thinking things were looking good. Iowa was only going six deep, so the fouls would eventually pile up and the spring would leave the Hawkeyes' step in time. Also, at home, Penn State is typically very strong in the second half. Throw that logic out the window. Iowa, fired up by coach Steve Alford's bout with some water bottles, came out strong and only got better. Penn State, on the other hand, failed to make its trademark second-half surge, and got only to within 58-53 before the wheels fell off.

"We were shooting too fast in the first half and that hurt our rebounding," Alford said. "We came out and did a better job in the second. This is a really big win for us, we knew it would be a fight. We're very fortunate." Guard Chauncey Leslie and forward Sean Sonderleiter led Iowa with 18 points each. Guard Sharif Chambliss led Penn State with 18 also. Chambliss, typically an immovable fixture from the starting lineup, began the game on the bench.

"I guess Coach Dunn didn't think I was giving him enough," Chambliss said. "It's his decision."

Dunn could render the same opinion, or worse, about anyone on this team. But to his credit, he won't say it publicly.

"They're just kids," he said. "They're going to make mistakes."