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Illinois Basketball: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Penn State

By Rees Woodcock

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 18, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 09: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood talks with Illinois Fighting Illini guard Aaron Jordan (23) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 9, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The final game of the regular season proved to be another disaster for the Illinois basketball team.

Once again, the Illini struggled against the Penn State Nittany Lions. It was a pretty good game through the first half, though. Illinois had the lead over Penn State 14-11 just 10 minutes into the game. That lead would grow to seven points, but Penn State would make a comeback.

The Nittany Lions were able to grab the lead away from the Illini 26-25 with 3:32 left in the first half. They got their lead up to four points, but the Illini came back with a 5-0 run by Ayo Dosunmu. Illinois would take a 32-31 lead into the halftime locker room.

Like many games this season, the opposing team came out of the locker room firing. Penn State was able to grab their first double-digit lead with 12:19 left in the game. The lead increased slightly to an 11-point lead with 10 minutes to go in the game.

Illinois didn’t have much of an answer for Penn State. We got it back to nine points at one time, but the Nittany Lions were just too much for the Illini. Penn State would go on to win the game 72-56.

Here are five observations from the Illini loss to Penn State.

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