Game 21: Michigan at Penn State Recap

Michigan and Penn State traded baskets for 15 minutes as Jett Howard and Jalen Pickett put on an exhibition of their offensive skills. The two star players hit a barrage of the difficult shots they are known for: step-back threes, bully ball post-ups, and turnaround fadeaways.

It only took one four-minute stretch for the wheels to fall off.

A Jett Howard triple cut Penn State’s lead to 31-30 with just over four minutes to play in the first half. Then in a flash, the Nittany Lions rattled off five consecutive made threes — including two by seldom-used big man Michael Henn, who had only attempted eight threes all year — to spurn an 18-0 run that effectively ended the game before halftime.

It wasn’t a secret that this was a terrible defensive matchup for Michigan, but 1.3 points allowed per possession matches Michigan’s worst effort of the year (Arizona State). Penn State hasn’t lost a game this season when it shoots better than 40 percent from 3-point range, and it buried 13-of-30 triples on the afternoon. You aren’t going to win at Penn State and allow them to get up 30 attempts from 3-point range, especially if they make any.