Battle, Penn State slam stunned Illini
When Illinois and Penn State meet, it's almost always an agonizing clash that goes to the wire.
On the occasions when their games can't be resolved until the end, Nittany Lions senior point guard Talor Battle has a history of providing the gut punch at the buzzer.
Battle didn't fill that role in the final seconds Tuesday night at Jordan Center, but he earned credit for setting up the stunning blow.
With time running out, Battle charged down the lane from the top of the key and threw up a wild left-handed layup.
It drew nothing but glass, but Penn State center Andrew Jones grabbed the ricochet on the weak side and dunked it with one second left for a 57-55 triumph over the 16th-ranked Illini.
Jones' slam went unchallenged because Illinois center Mike Tisdale ranged across the lane to try to help D.J. Richardson defend Battle's drive.
“It's just crazy how these games with them have gone,” said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. “The bounce of the ball goes the right way (for them).”
Battle, whose game-winning layup two years ago dumped another nationally ranked Illini squad in the final seconds, delivered a game-high 26 points as Penn State (10-6, 3-2) wrapped up back-to-back wins over Top 25 teams for the first time since 1954.
Illinois (13-4, 3-1) trailed by as many as 12 in the first half and didn't take its first lead until early in the second half.
The last two times the Illini carved out a lead, Battle answered with a ridiculously long 3-pointer.
With 12:02 to go, he beat the shot clock with a bomb that originated with both feet on the half-court logo.
Then, after D.J. Richardson's 3 free throws gave Illinois a 51-50 edge with 5:45 to go, Battle delivered a 26-footer over the reach of 6-foot-9 senior Mike Davis.
Senior center Mike Tisdale paced Illinois with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Demetri McCamey added 10 points for an Illini squad that didn't come close to its recent efficiency. McCamey set the tone on the game's opening possession when he lobbed an alley-oop pass well over Mike Davis' head out of bounds.