Indiana basketball faced Penn State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals on Saturday. After a strong defensive effort in the quarterfinals against Maryland, the Hoosiers couldn’t maintain their momentum. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino led Indiana’s charge, but Penn State’s Seth Lundy and Jalen Pickett proved to be too much for the Hoosiers.

In a hard-fought battle, Penn State emerged victorious with a final score of 77-73. The Nittany Lions, a No. 10 seed, will now face Purdue in the tournament championship. Jalen Pickett stood out for Penn State with an impressive performance, contributing 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Seth Lundy also played a key role, adding 16 points to the team’s victory.

Trayce Jackson-Davis showcased his skills once again for Indiana, recording 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. With this performance, Jackson-Davis became IU’s 3rd-leading career scorer with 2,211 points, surpassing Don Schlundt. Tamar Bates added 14 points, Jalen Hood-Schifino contributed 11 points, and Race Thompson scored 10 points. However, Penn State dominated the boards, out-rebounding Indiana by 8, and the Hoosiers struggled from beyond the arc, making only 2 3-pointers compared to Penn State’s 8.

Despite trailing by 15 with just over two minutes left, Indiana made a late charge to bring the game to a one-point difference. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Trey Galloway played a crucial role in the comeback effort. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome Penn State’s lead.

Throughout the game, momentum swung back and forth. Penn State took control during the second half, with Andrew Funk’s clutch 3-pointer and Jalen Pickett’s strong presence in the paint. IU struggled to contain Penn State’s offensive rebounding and suffered from a lack of outside shooting.

At halftime, Penn State led 34-26. Jalen Pickett and Seth Lundy led the charge for Penn State, while Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson carried the load for Indiana.

The loss to Penn State marks the end of Indiana’s journey in the Big Ten tournament. Although the result may be disappointing for the Hoosiers, they showed their resilience and fought until the very end.

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