Northwestern's Craig Moore launched a three-pointer from about 30 feet away, with one second left on the shot clock, if Ed DeChellis remembers it correctly.

The heave dropped perfectly through the nylon, missing iron completely. With 2:21 remaining in the second half, the Wildcats -- stuck at the bottom of the Big Ten standings since the beginning of the conference season -- had solidified second-to-last place for the time being.

It was DeChellis and his Penn State men's basketball team (10-13, 1-9 Big Ten) that would be doomed into the cellar, eventually losing 53-51 to Northwestern (12-12, 2-9 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions have now lost nine games in a row -- courtesy of an improbable swish.

"That's the way the season's going," DeChellis said, according to Northwestern athletics. "[Moore] throws it over his head from 30 feet and it goes in. That's the way it's been. It's a one-point game and it goes to four."

Geary Claxton, who led Penn State with 16 points, couldn't connect on a last-second chance to send the game into overtime, either. After a spin to the basket against Wildcat guard Tim Doyle, Claxton's shot in the paint came up short.

The game wasn't lost on Claxton's miss, though. Now alone in last-place in the conference, the Lions dropped to 0-7 on the road this season, and instead of finding a way to win, Penn State continued to do the opposite.

The Lions trailed 37-27 after the first half, partly because of Northwestern's 12 points off of turnovers. Entering the game, the Wildcats were last in the Big Ten in scoring offense but managed to shoot 60 percent in the first half.

"We just didn't play with any energy in the first half," DeChellis said.

"The game was lost in the first half. We just didn't play with any energy or emotion. I don't have any reason for that. We just didn't."

That 37-point first half was Northwestern's best point total in the conference season and was the most since a 53-point first stanza against non-conference opponent Northwestern State.

During some home contests this season, the Wildcats have won games with only a few points more on the final score. Against

North Florida and Wheaton (Ill.), Northwestern concluded games with 40-39 and 41-39 victories, respectively.

This victory ended a four-game losing streak for Northwestern, which had lost nine out of its last 10 games, dating back to a 87-53 defeat at Penn State on Jan. 3.

The Wildcats held a lead of 10 points or more for 14 minutes and 15 seconds during the game, and allowed the Lions to sneak back into it late, but Claxton's miss at the end was quite a relief.

Penn State, on the other hand, continues its spiral toward capturing the title of worst team in the Big Ten.

"We haven't won in a while, and we certainly almost let this one go, but things worked out," Wildcats head coach Bill Carmody said, according to Northwestern athletics.

"There was a little luck involved, with Craig [Moore] making that shot and Claxton missing his shot, which is a better shot. Right now, we're just very happy."