Oumar Ballo delivered an impressive performance with 25 points and 13 rebounds, leading Indiana to a 77-71 victory over Penn State during a thrilling match at The Palestra in Philadelphia. This marked the fifth Big Ten game hosted at this iconic basketball venue for the Nittany Lions, and it was their second loss there.

The first half saw Nick Kern Jr. make two crucial free throws in the final seconds, closing the gap and tying the score at 29-29 before halftime. However, Indiana quickly shifted the momentum at the beginning of the second half with a series of strong plays, including two 3-pointers and a layup from Mackenzie Mgbako. In just three minutes, Myles Rice and Ballo contributed layups that expanded the Hoosiers’ lead to 41-29. A 3-pointer from Trey Galloway midway through the half pushed Indiana ahead 61-45, but the Nittany Lions mounted a comeback with an 8-1 run, narrowing the score to 62-53.

Despite a rocky start beyond the arc, where Penn State missed its initial 13 attempts from 3-point range, they found their rhythm as Freddie Dilione V and Kern hit consecutive 3-pointers, closing the gap to just four points at 65-61 with 5:50 left in the game. In retaliation, Ballo drove to the basket, scoring a layup and adding a free throw, which restored Indiana’s lead to seven points. Penn State’s Zach Hicks then made another critical 3-pointer, bringing his team within two at 73-71 with only 1:43 remaining, but Mgbako and Rice each converted two free throws to secure the victory. Ace Baldwin missed three 3-point attempts in the final moments, and Dilione’s attempt at the buzzer also fell short.

Mgbako concluded the match with 20 points while Goode added 12 for the Hoosiers, who now hold a record of 12-3 with a 3-1 standing in the conference. For Penn State, Kern led the scoring with 21 points, accompanied by Baldwin with 12 and Dilione contributing 11 points of his own.

Looking ahead, Penn State will face No. 22 Illinois, while Indiana is set to host USC, with both games scheduled for Wednesday.