Krushed: Penn St. Ends Illini's Assembly Hall Win Streak

Last night was supposed to be another routine Big Ten home victory against a lower-echelon conference opponent, but it turned into one of the most disturbing regular-season defeats in recent memory for the Illini. Penn St. hit big shots and packed in the zone to slowly chip away at Illinois' 16-point 2nd half lead. The Nittany Lions took their first lead of the game when Travis Parker converted on an offensive rebound with 8.5 seconds left to make it 66-65. Rich McBride's 3-pointer at the buzzer appeared to save the Illini, but after 5 excruciating minutes at the replay monitor the officials made the correct call to wave it off—the shot was 0.01 seconds late.

The loss ended Illinois' school-record 33-game home winning streak. The last Illini loss at the Assembly Hall came two years ago against Purdue (58-54) on January 10, 2004. 52 pictures from the scene below:

All pictured shots were good, unless otherwise noted. The pictures taken from the floor are courtesy of fryeimages; the rest were taken by me via C15 row 14.












Shaun Pruitt




Rich McBride


Illinois scored the game's first 13 points before Penn St.'s Geary Claxton hit a 2pt jump shot at 14:18.




James Augustine


Lucas Johnson


James Augustine


Bruce Weber


No basket. Dee Brown called for charging.



The 2nd half-


Rich McBride


James Augustine


Double technical fouls on Jamelle Cornley and Brian Randle.


Brian Randle




Geary Claxton crashes into Shaun Pruitt (Brian Randle called for the reach-in foul).


Dee Brown breaks the tie with a 3; 62-59.




After Mike Walker ties it at 62 with a 3, Rich McBride gives Illinois the 65-62 lead with another 3.


With Illinois clinging to a 65-64 lead, Dee Brown's long 3 rims out. Brian Randle almost tips the ball in, and Jamar Smith gets the offensive rebound...


...but Illinois can only manage yet another long 3 attempt by Dee Brown. Penn St. grabs the rebound and calls timeout.




Out of the timeout, Mike Walker misses a 3...


...Travis Parker gets the offensive rebound and hits the go-ahead with 8 seconds left to put Penn St. up by 1, 66-65 (their first lead of the contest).




Dee Brown gets double-teamed on the inbounds and dishes to Rich McBride who hit the 3 at the buzzer.










Some of the Orange Krush prematurely celebrate and storm the court before security pushed them back.


The officials immediately went to the replay monitor to review the play.






After five agonizing minutes, McBride's shot was waved off and Penn St. celebrated.
















Filed under: Illini Basketball, Illinois Loyalty Photos, Penn State Nittany Lions