Just moments earlier, a sea of orange engulfed Illinois guard Rich McBride while a vortex of familiar darkness washed over Ed DeChellis and the Penn State men's basketball team.

There would be no sleep for DeChellis on this night, just the agonizing thoughts that linger in a coach's head after a terribly close defeat.

Then, thanks to some overdue good fortune and referee Gene Crawford's disallowing of McBride's supposed buzzer-beating 3-pointer, all was suddenly right in the Nittany Lion basketball universe.

The shot, which would have given No. 6 Illinois a 68-66 victory, was released after time expired -- rendering the Illini's 33-game winning streak at Assembly Hall expired as well.

This, of course, sent the Lions into a jubilant frenzy as players ran onto the court, awkwardly looking for someone to hug.

"We cheered, we sang, we did everything," forward Jamelle Cornley said.

Forgive DeChellis and his Lions if they did not execute the most memorable of celebrations.

"This is very special for us," DeChellis told the Penn State Sports Network. "We haven't done this. We haven't gone on the road and beaten the sixth-ranked team in the country."

Saturday's 66-65 brow-raiser gave Penn State its first victory over a ranked opponent since March of 2001, when the Lions beat North Carolina to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Since then the program has been plagued by transfers, injuries, a slew of losses and the foul stench of severe mediocrity.

The upset also marks the first time the Lions have won a game in the month of February under their third-year head coach.

"I wanted them to win so bad, and I wanted our school to win so badly," DeChellis said. "We've had some tough days and tough luck, and I'm really proud of them. They just keep hanging in there and I keep barking at them and they keep coming back for more."

Penn State has lost close games this year because of that one rebound, that one shot, that one call, that one play the opponent made that the Lions just could not match.

Those losses did not help DeChellis' sleep patterns, of course.

The coach lamented after a few losses that he would have to stay up all night watching the film to see where his team could improve, that he would not be able to rest until he went over the details that led to the defeat.

It looked for a few moments like McBride, with his would-be 20 points and last-second heroics, was set to join the company of Iowa's Adam Haluska, Michigan State's Shannon Brown and Drew Neitzel and Michigan's Dion Harris and Daniel Horton -- an all-star ensemble of perimeter players who took it upon themselves to quell any attempts the Lions have taken to make a statement this season.

"[The win] was nice because we really don't get much respect," Penn State guard Mike Walker said.

The statement has now been made loud and clear, and is now resonating through the airwaves.

DeChellis made his players well aware of what show went on the air in the moments following the dramatic defeat of Illinois.

"I said to them, 'Hey, it's 11 p.m. EST and ESPN's coming on and, duh-duh-duh, duh-duh-duh, we are the lead story," DeChellis said.

"We talked in my pregame speech about doing something special, and gosh darnit, let's try to be the lead tonight on SportsCenter."

Well, gosh darnit, the Lions -- particularly Geary Claxton and Travis Parker -- played the game of their lives, and finally came up on the winning end of a close game against a good team.

"This is your night," ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb advised the Lions.

Let's hope DeChellis, after a late flight home, used the opportunity to catch up on some sleep.