UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, Zach Hicks scored 20 points, guiding Penn State to a narrow 84-80 victory over Northwestern. The win showcased a strong team effort as four players finished in double figures for the Nittany Lions.
Ace Baldwin Jr. proved to be a significant contributor, netting 17 points, of which 15 came from the free-throw line. He also recorded seven assists and five steals during the game. Puff Johnson added 11 points, while Freddie Dilione V chipped in 10. The Nittany Lions displayed impressive accuracy, making half of their 44 field-goal attempts and excelling at the charity stripe with an 80% success rate, hitting 36 of 45 shots.
For Northwestern, Brooks Barnhizer delivered a strong performance with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking his seventh consecutive double-double. He also contributed eight assists, three steals, and one block. Nick Martinelli supported the Wildcats with 18 points, as the team shot 46% from the field, hitting 28 of 61 attempts, and excelled from the free-throw line by converting 18 of 21 shots (86%).
The game saw Penn State pull away with a decisive 7-0 run, taking an 80-75 lead with just over three minutes to play. Although Northwestern managed to narrow the gap to 82-80, a crucial three-point attempt by Ty Berry with only 6.7 seconds left fell short.
Jalen Reach managed to score a put-back basket, but after an official review, the play was ruled out. Northwestern seized the opportunity to regain possession, but Baldwin forced a turnover that allowed Penn State to seal the victory at the free-throw line with just 1.6 seconds remaining.
With this win, Penn State improved to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference, having won six of their last seven matchups and maintaining an undefeated 9-0 record at home. Conversely, Northwestern, now 10-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play, saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.
The game featured a tense atmosphere with 14 lead changes and seven ties, alongside a combined total of 33 turnovers. Looking ahead, Northwestern will be traveling to take on 20th-ranked Purdue this Sunday, while Penn State is set to host Indiana on the same day.
