LIVE BLOG: Penn State blown out, 78-54, at UCLA
Penn State basketball is in it. Head coach Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions have dropped eight of their last nine games, most recently including a 69-61 decision against Minnesota on Tuesday at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Now, the Nittany Lions are taking their troubles on the road.
Departing Thursday for a five-day swing to California, Penn State will first take on UCLA on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m., BTN) at Pauley Pavilion. The Nittany Lions will follow it with a second game against the Big Ten’s new Los Angeles teams when it faces Southern Cal on Tuesday.
A jaunt that the program has long prepared to face, Rhoades acknowledged the challenges that come with it. But, he also insisted this week that the Nittany Lions wouldn’t enter the foray feeling sorry for their circumstances or the difficulty that awaits.
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“Some coaches have said how tough it is and stuff like that. If you make excuses, they’re built in. Can’t make excuses,” said Rhoades. “I always say these guys in AAU have traveled all over the country since they’re 8, 9, 10-years old, and played three games in one day or five games in two days, and then travel back and all that. So they’ve been through that before. It’s a little different. Maybe the pace is a little different. But you figure it out and you can’t make excuses.”
Can Penn State do so? Saturday afternoon, the Nittany Lions will take their next steps toward finding out. Follow our live updates from the game in our BWI live blog, here.
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FINAL: UCLA 78 – Penn State 54
02/08/2025 04:53:35 PMPenn State falls to 13-11 overall for the 2024-25 season with a 3-10 mark in the Big Ten.
Penn State puts slight dent in UCLA lead
02/08/2025 04:46:41 PMManaging three trips to the free throw line, Penn State cut slightly into UCLA’s growing advantage, cutting the score to 72-52 at the U4 media timeout.
Penn State turnover woes continue; UCLA opens huge lead
02/08/2025 04:31:44 PMPenn State now has 16 turnovers to just one for UCLA. The Bruins are on another run, this time 13-2, while Penn State has endured a 1-of-7 stretch shooting from the floor. UCLA holds a 68-43 advantage with 7:52 left to play.
UCLA upends Penn State run with big response
02/08/2025 04:23:10 PMPenn State’s 8-0 run was quickly dispelled by a 17-2 run for UCLA. The Bruins lead 63-41 at the U12 media timeout.
Penn State opens second half with quick 8-0 run
02/08/2025 04:09:21 PMPenn State enjoyed a quick 8-0 run in the opening minutes of the second half with a pair of D’Marco Dunn and Ace Baldwin 3-pointers.
Penn State halftime stat leaders
02/08/2025 04:06:11 PMPenn State and UCLA are set to begin the second half.
UCLA takes biggest advantage to half
02/08/2025 03:49:26 PMA stretch of four consecutive made baskets helped UCLA close the half on a 12-5 run to take a 44-31 lead into the locker room.
Turnovers put Penn State in 10-point hole
02/08/2025 03:44:18 PMA sequence of five turnovers in three-plus minutes and four in four possessions flipped Penn State’s edge into a deficit in which it hasn’t been able to dig out. The Nittany Lions’ ninth turnover of the half sent the two teams into the U4 media timeout with the Bruins leading, 38-28.
UCLA forces Penn State timeout on back-to-back turnovers, runouts
02/08/2025 03:26:50 PMPenn State called a timeout at the 9:27 mark, quickly losing its 16-15 advantage through a 7-0 UCLA run capped by back-to-back runout dunks off of turnovers in the open court. UCLA leads, 21-16.
Penn State, UCLA trade early jabs
02/08/2025 03:19:39 PMPenn State took a 13-10 lead but a pair of back-to-back buckets for the Bruins put the advantage back in the hands of the hosts.
Starters are set
02/08/2025 02:40:54 PMAce Baldwin, Freddie Dilione, Zach Hicks, Nick Kern, and Kachi Nzeh will get the start against the Bruins.
Injury updates
02/08/2025 02:27:47 PMPer the Big Ten availability report, Puff Johnson will remain out for this game as he continues to nurse an injured right hand. He sustained the setback in the Nittany Lions’ Jan. 15 loss at Michigan State.
Also dealing with an injury is big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser. The 7-foot Penn Stater sprained his ankle on Sunday leading into the program’s game with Minnesota and was unable to play against the Gophers. He is listed as questionable on the official availability report ahead of Saturday’s game.
Penn State preps for UCLA matchup
02/08/2025 02:22:30 PMPenn State is preparing for its game with UCLA on Saturday afternoon in Brentwood.
Game notes, details
02/08/2025 02:38:39 PMLinked below.
