STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Seth Lundy hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:37 remaining and finished with 17 points as Penn State beat No. 19 Michigan State 62-58 on Tuesday night.
John Harrar had 16 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Pickett added 10 points for the Nittany Lions (10-12, 5-9 Big Ten), who beat a ranked team for the first time under first-year coach Micah Shrewsberry.
Julius Marble II scored 14 points and Max Christie had 10 for the Spartans (18-7, 9-5), who led for all but 4:42. Michigan State was up by 14 points with 13:20 to play.
Michigan State opened the second half with an 8-0 run, and just over four minutes later, had its biggest lead of the game at 43-29 on a jumper by Marble.
Sessoms helped to key Penn State’s comeback. He hit back-to-back shots and fueled a 15-2 run over the next 4:39.
The Nittany Lions cut the lead to one twice before a pull-up jumper by Lundy gave them their first lead of the half with 1:37 left.
The Spartans took control early with a balanced first-half approach.
Six shooters scored in the opening 9:17. Max Christie hit a mid-range jumper to give Michigan State a 16-9 lead midway through the half. Meanwhile, the Spartans held Penn State to just 8-for-29 shooting from the floor and got four blocks over the first 15 minutes.
Penn State adjusted its strategy as the first half wore on, opting for outside shots as the Spartans controlled the paint.
Pickett, who scored 10 points in the first half, made a pair of 3-pointers, including one off a fast break, to tie the game at 22-all with 1:59 left in the first. He added a pair of free throws before a Mady Sissoko’s bucket made it 24-all at halftime. BIG PICTURE
Michigan State: The Spartans continue to play stingy defense. They entered the game holding opponents to just 40.4% shooting, but couldn’t keep Penn State under wraps down the stretch.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions just ended a tough streak in which they played five of their last seven on the road. Tuesday’s game started another trip in which they’ll play three games in six days.
UP NEXT
Michigan State: Hosts No. 12 Illinois on Saturday. The Spartans lost to the Illini 56-55 on Jan. 25.
Penn State: Hosts Minnesota on Thursday.
