IOWA CITY, Iowa — D.J. Newbill posted his seventh 20-point game of the season, but Penn State (8-13; 0-9 Big Ten) couldn’t overcome a 31-14 Iowa (14-7; 2-6 Big Ten) scoring advantage at the foul line and fell, 76-67, in Iowa City Thursday night.
Newbill led Penn State posting 20 points, six rebounds and four assists while playing nearly the entire 40 minutes. Jermaine Marshall added 15 points and four assists and freshman Brandon Taylor had eight points for a Penn State team that shot 39 percent to post its highest point total in the Big Ten so far on the season, but committed 18 turnovers. The Lions hit 87 percent at the foul line, going 14-of-16 but, took 23 less free throws than Iowa.
Iowa got a huge game from forward Aaron White who logged 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting at the foul line, part of a 31-of-39 Iowa effort at the free throw stripe on the night for Iowa. Melsahn Basabe added 10 points and 10 rebounds while going 8-of-10 at the foul line for Iowa.
Iowa built an 11-point lead seconds into the second period when Penn State used an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three, 37-34, after a Newbill three-point play.
Iowa responded with a 13-2 run, getting six points at the line, to retake a 52-38 lead. Another 6-0 Penn State run had the deficit down to nine, 56-47, with eight minutes to play, but Iowa used a 6-0 run of its own to build its advantage back to 62-47.
Penn State rallied again and got within seven, 69-62, when Kevin Montminy was called for a flagrant foul after fouling White while he converted a break-away. White’s three-point play and following free throw rebuilt the Iowa lead to 72-62 and ended the Penn State threat.
The Lions trailed 34-26 at the half after the Hawkeyes grabbed nine first half steals and forced 12 Penn State turnovers. Marshall’s 10 points led Penn State which shot 34 percent in the half and 3-of-12 from three.
Penn State hit four of its first six shots to jump to an early 10-3 lead as Brandon Taylor scored five early points and Marshall connected on an early three. The Lions then hit a five-minute drought and saw Iowa’s Aaron White come alive with seven straight points. The Hawkeyes used a 14-0 run to seize a 17-10 lead midway through the half.
Marshall’s three finally ended Penn State’s drought with 10:05 to play in the half and had the game at 17-13, Iowa. A White three pushed Iowa ahead 24-15 and the Hawkeyes extended the lead to double-digits, 30-19, after a 6-0 run. White had 14 in the half to lead an Iowa team that shot 39 percent and 2-of-10 from three.
Melsahn Basabe through down a dunk and was called for an unsportsmanlike technical giving Penn State a chance to cut into a 32-21 Iowa lead. Marshall hit two at the line and Sasa Borovnjak converted a nice and-one finish with a free throw after a Newbill assist to get Penn State within eight, 34-26.
Penn State will get the weekend off before returning to the Jordan Center for a Tuesday night clash with Purdue. The game will tip at 7 p.m. on Dollar Dog Night and can be seen live on the Big Ten Network.
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