With the Big Ten championships three weeks away, the Penn State men's swimming and diving team got an early look at one of its chief rivals in the conference, Ohio State.

After starting the season 0-4, the Penn State men's swimming and diving team closed out its dual meet season by winning its final two meets, including Saturday's big win against Ohio State.

The Nittany Lions (4-6) beat Ohio State (6-2) 122-121 at the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center in Columbus in a rare meet against a Big Ten rival during the regular season.

The two teams compete against one another during the Big Ten championships.

"Any time you swim against someone in your conference its important," senior Todd Minnier said.

With two events remaining, the Lions clung to a 107-100 lead, but co-captain Mark Zucca's victory in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:03.68) sealed the victory for Penn State.

Minnier said that the team is in a good place heading into Big Ten's.

Minnier shined in his final dual meet season with three individual event victories.

He won the 200-yard freestyle with an NCAA "B" cut time of 1:38.00.

The "B" cut times are used for consideration for entrance in the NCAA tournament.

Minnier also won the 100-yard freestyle (45.21) and was on the winning 400-yard medley relay team (3:20.77) with Daryl Northrop, Shawn McLin and Dan Velez.

Junior Dustin Thompson won the 200-yard butterfly (1:51.50) as well as the 500-yard freestyle (4:39.95). Northrop also added a win in the 50-yard freestyle (21.09).

In a rare occurrence, the Lions divers failed to win at least one diving event.

Ohio State diver Mitch Richeson picked up wins in both the one- and three-meter board with season-high scores of 391.28 and 364.28, respectively.

Penn State was led by sophomore Adam Pierce who placed second in the one-meter (325.95) and third in the three-meter (345.45).

Sophomore Mike Alderman, who finished fourth in the one-meter (310.88) said that although his consistency in practice has gotten better, he still needs to work on his performance during meets.

Alderman said his focus is going to be on perfecting his one and three-meter dives in the coming three weeks before Big Ten championships.

Having already faced some of the elite teams in the country, Alderman said that the team is better prepared to face Big Ten teams.

"You're not going to be surprised but be able to focus better," Alderman said. "We don't get to face too many Big Ten teams during the season and beating them by one point and in their own pool is nice. This win gives us a lot of momentum heading into the Big Ten's."