Penn State 64, UI 63

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – One by one, stunned by the craziness that had just unfolded, the Illinois players filed out of the visitors' locker room at Bryce Jordan Center.

First, Trent Meacham took the blame. Next, Bruce Weber said it was his fault. Then Demetri McCamey said, "I take the blame for that."

Hey, fellas. You're pointing the finger at the wrong guy.

"I told Coach, 'If we get the ball back, we're going to win,' " Penn State guard Talor Battle said.

That's the guy, right there. It was Battle's prayer of a layup that lifted Penn State to an almost-unbelievable 64-63 win Thursday. Maybe you can fault No. 23 Illinois for blowing four 10-point leads, the last one with 5:11 left in regulation.

But if you're going to credit Illinois (23-8, 11-7 Big Ten) for a comeback that beat Northwestern about a month ago, then Penn State probably deserves credit for a triumph that sent thousands of students rushing onto the court.

"We played our butts off. What can you say?" Weber said. "It was a heck of a college basketball game."

The bubbly atmosphere inside Bryce Jordan Center felt more like a 13,091-member frat party – or an indoor tailgate in this football town – with white T-shirts handed out at the door. The school hosted a "White Out," with $5 student tickets going 2-for-1, and, fittingly, spring break starts today after classes.

"He played well on his birthday," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said of guard Stanley Pringle, who scored a game-high 20 points on his 22nd.

The basketball hero, though, was Battle. Trailing 63-62 with under 10 seconds remaining, the sophomore raced from the opposite free throw line to the other hoop, tossing a banker high off the backboard. It hit the rim and fell through the hoop with 0.3 second on the clock.

"It was up there for a while, wasn't it?" DeChellis said with a smile. "That's good. It took more time off the clock. We practiced that shot."

Illinois had led for the previous 35:51. In a comeback against Northwestern on Feb. 12, the Illini trailed for the first 39:57, before McCamey hit a game-winning jumper.

"I already know he's going to hit me up on Facebook," McCamey said of Battle, who reversed karma on the Illini. "He said that's what he'll do after the game."

The No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds in the Big Ten tournament are still in play for Illinois. Viewed as a team on the NCAA tournament bubble, Penn State (21-9, 10-7) can climb as high as the No. 2 seed after an improbable win.

"We did the same thing to Northwest- ern," Weber said. "Now we're on the other shoe."

GAME 31 REVIEW

What happened: Two weeks after Illinois and Penn State played arguably the ugliest game in the Assembly Hall’s history — a 38-33 doozy — they combined for a chaotic affair that left Penn State on the winning end, again. The Nittany Lions might have secured an NCAA berth, while Illinois is stuck on win No. 23.

What it means: One year ago, Illinois was suffering its 18th loss, a setback to Michigan State at the Assembly Hall. So it’s not all gloom and doom in Illini Land. Illinois still can get the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament, if Penn State loses to Iowa and Purdue loses to Michigan State.

What the Illini said: “I’m very proud of our kids. I didn’t know how they would respond after (a loss to) Michigan State. And they played their butts off.” — coach Bruce Weber

What the Nittany Lions said: “A couple months ago, right across the street at Beaver Stadium, we played Illinois. And everybody knows we took care of business.” — Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark, holding a microphone, speaking to the crowd of 13,091 before tipoff

What’s next: It’s a waiting game to find out what seed Illinois will earn in the Big Ten tournament that starts next Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Illini will play Friday and can climb to a No. 2 seed or fall to a No. 4 seed. Weber said the Illini have today and Saturday off.

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