Ohio St. Buckeyes vs Penn St. Nittany Lions Match Player Stats On Dec 05, 2021

Kyle Young scored 16 points off the bench and E.J. Liddell battled through foul trouble to add 14 points as Ohio State topped host Penn State 76-64 on Sunday in State College, Pa.

In the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams, the Buckeyes (6-2, 1-0) jumped out to a 5-0 lead. However, Seth Lundy took over for Penn State (4-4, 0-1), scoring nine points in helping the Nittany Lions compile a 12- 0 run.

After a timeout, the Buckeyes took a 14-12 lead with a 9-0 run of their own and opened a 27-19 lead at the 10-minute mark of the first half. They finished the half with a 41-30 lead.

Jamari Wheeler, who transferred to Ohio State following a four-year career at Penn State, had four assists and scored seven points in the first half, tying him with teammate Malaki Branham's point total. Young had eight first-half points.

Lundy scored 11 points in the half. He faded down the stretch after leaving the court to tend to a bloody nose.

Ohio State went ahead 52-34 at the 16:29 mark of the second half before going cold from the field and getting into foul trouble. Penn State cut the lead to 64-57 with about four minutes left as both teams traded baskets.

Justin Ahrens' 3-pointer put the Buckeyes up 70-61 with just over two minutes left in the game.

Penn State continued to battle, cutting the lead to 70-64 with 40 seconds to play before Liddell's dunk helped Ohio State close it out.

Jalen Pickett led the Nittany Lions with 23 points. John Harrar had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

--Field Level Media