Geary Claxton would rather win by one point against the worst basketball team in the world, than lose a game to anyone.

So after Saturday afternoon's 27-point loss to Michigan State, it's understandable that he went straight to his room and went to sleep.

"It was pretty rough," Claxton's roommate, junior forward Brandon Hassell, said.

Claxton scored 11 points against the Spartans, his second lowest total since Dec. 2, when he returned to the starting lineup for the first time after breaking a bone in his right hand.

His three rebounds against Michigan State tied a season-low that he recorded in a 20-point loss to Michigan the game before. Even with a brace on his right hand in late November, Claxton was taking down twice as many per game.

With losses mounting -- Saturday's defeat was the Penn State men's basketball team's fourth straight -- coach Ed DeChellis has noticed another unpleasant pattern, this one from Claxton, his leading scorer from the past two seasons.

"He's trying too hard," DeChellis said. "Trying to score, trying to do this, trying too hard, instead of letting things come to him. I talked to him about that last week about taking your time, getting on balance and so forth."

Both Claxton's scoring average (12.8) and rebounds per game (6.8) during the conference schedule are slightly lower than last year's averages. In 2006, Claxton posted 15.9 points and 8.0 rebounds in the Big Ten.

It's been just five games, but the preseason All-Big Ten pick would like to stop the falling production.

"I need to rebound and shoot the ball better," Claxton said. "I haven't shot the ball well from the field, but I keep attacking [the basket]. It's a little frustrating that I'm not shooting the ball well, but it will change."

Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, Michigan State's Tom Izzo, and others have sung Claxton's praises before and after watching him play this season. Izzo called him a "pro-type player" and Sampson said Claxton was a tough match-up for any team because of his uncanny ability to play well in the post at his 6-foot-5 height.

As a result, opposing coaches have also thrown more intense defenses his way.

"This year is different, they're just trying to be more physical. Bumping me, checking me, all that other stuff," Claxton said.

Claxton's teammates realize the attention he draws and understand they have to help him get open shots to relieve some of the pressure he is feeling.

"When things aren't going well for a team, some people might try to take matters into their own hands and that's not going to happen in the Big Ten," senior guard Ben Luber said. "There's no one player that is that dominant that he can just do everything by himself without a team."

While his teammates look to assist, Claxton said he would leave Saturday's loss in the past while preparing for tonight's game at Iowa.

"I [didn't] dwell on in at all," he said. "It's just a game."

But a game he would rather win.