Cornley's 17 points lead Penn State past Indiana

Penn State vs Indiana

Tom Crean will turn around the Indiana program in due time, but for one season, the Hoosiers are extremely vulnerable against a strong post player who knows what to do within six feet of the basket. Faced with a must-win situation Penn State forward Jamelle Cornley didn't waste a golden opportunity to give his team a much-needed lift.

Cornley's 17 points, along with his wide space-filling presence, gave the Nittany Lions the scoring punch and floor spacing they needed to post a 65-55 win in Assembly Hall. With D.J. White and other muscle men no longer available for IU, the hollowed-out program--left bare by the disastrous Kelvin Sampson era--is having to endure a season in which opposing big men can have their way with the Hoosiers. This was no exception on Saturday night in Bloomington, as Penn State's most powerful player controlled the tone and tempo of a Big Ten battle.
 
Penn State had a few nervous moments in the second half, as Indiana consistently competed despite its lack of size and depth. But whenever coach Ed DeChellis needed points from his club, he could count on Cornley to make things happen. Cornley didn't just score big in a relatively low-scoring contest; the forward's even bigger contribution was his ability to draw defenders, spread out Indiana's defense, and make the Hoosiers chase Penn State's fleet-footed guards, Stanley Pringle and Talor Battle. Because IU had to collapse against Cornley, Pringle and Battle were able to combine for 31 points (19 for Pringle, 12 for Battle). Given Indiana's lack of a meal-ticket scorer, PSU's inside-outside balance, made possible by Cornley, proved to be more than enough for the visitors.

It would have been so easy--and understandable--for Penn State to mope after missing a great chance to take down league-leading Michigan State on Wednesday night in Happy Valley. Instead of allowing an energized Indiana squad to pull off a home-court upset, the Nittany Lions patiently worked to their offensive strengths, and allowed Cornley to become this game's most dominant presence.
 
Armed with yet another conference win, the Lions now boast a 3-3 mark in league play, remaining in contention for a possible NCAA Tournament bid. There's a lot more work to do for the Blue and White, but if Jamelle Cornley continues to make his presence felt, this PSU crew can make a legitimate run at a Dance card in March.

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