CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Leron Black scored a game-high 18 points in Illinois' 74-52 loss to Penn State Sunday at State Farm Center.
Illinois had the lead for more than 15 minutes in the first half, but squandered it late. With the Illini up 36-32 in the final second of the first half, Carr air balled a 3-pointer from the right wing, but Jamari Wheeler grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out to Garner, who nailed a corner 3 with 3.7 seconds left.
On the ensuing play, Mark Alstork stepped on the baseline while inbounding the ball, giving Penn State possession. Carr scored a layup before the buzzer to take a 37-36 point lead into the break.
Illinois then missed its first nine second-half shots to open the second half and didn't score for seven-plus minutes as Penn State went on a 12-0 run to make it 49-36. The Nittany Lions (18-9, 8-6 Big Ten) led by at least nine points the rest of the way.
The Nittany Lions shot 54.5 percent from the field, outscored Illinois 34-12 in the paint and won their fourth consecutive game against the Illini. Penn State has won six of its last seven overall.
Shep Garner scored 16 points and Tony Carr had 15 points to lead Penn State.
Kipper Nichols added 12 points and Te'Jon Lucas 10 points for Illinois (12-14, 2-11).
The Illini will face Indiana on the Wednesday night. Illinois knocked off the Hoosiers on Jan. 24 for its first Big Ten victory of the season.
