Penn State basketball: Three takeaways from PSU's win over Northwestern

Penn State Nittany Lions basketball overcame a dismal first-half offensive performance to beat Northwestern, 67-60, shooting 60.9 percent from the field in the second half.

With the win, PSU moves to 7-10 in conference play and 12-13 overall.

Let’s get into the takeaways.

1. John Harrar’s career high

John Harrar saved one of the best performances of his career for his senior night.

The fifth-year Nittany Lion collected a career-high 20 boards — besting his previous best by four rebounds.

Six of those came on the offensive glass, only one fewer than the total Northwestern managed as a team.

“You almost have to get him with two guys, he’s so relentless on the boards,” Wildcats coach Chris Collins said.

Harrar contributed 11 points on 4-6 shooting, too. He grabbed rebound No. 20 in the game’s final seconds, and was subbed off to a standing ovation from the Bryce Jordan Center crowd.

“I think if someone asked me how I would picture senior night, and that’s pretty much it right there,” he said.

2. Dallion Johnson lights it up for Penn State

Northwestern’s scouting report on sophomore guard Dallion Johnson read “no threes,” according to Collins.

It’s safe to say the message didn’t sink in.

Johnson connected on five of his nine attempts from beyond the arc for a career-high 15 points.

All of them came in the second half, after a difficult first half that included some turnovers. Shrewsberry said Northwestern stayed at home on Penn State’s shooters in the first frame, which made it difficult to get clean works.

“We got stagnant and we got stuck,” Shrewsberry said.

Johnson helped get Penn State’s offense flowing again.

Having pushed his way into the starting lineup midway through the season, Johnson had injected some much-needed quickness, dynamism and shooting ability into the Nittany Lions’ setup.

He had not, however, done anything like this, averaging three points per game coming into Friday’s contest.

Postgame, Shrewsberry praised Johnson for his willingness to put the work in necessary to earn playing time and come up with a performance like this.

“Dallion’s a freshman,” Shrewsberry said. “He didn’t get a chance to play very much last year. We brought him along slowly to make sure he was doing the right things to earn time on the court.”

3. Lions solve creative Northwestern defense

Penn State’s first-half offensive effort was abysmal.

The Nittany Lions shot 26.7 percent from the floor. An aggressive approach to defending Penn State’s ball-screen action on the part of Northwestern limited PSU’s effectiveness in the paint.

In turn, Shrewsberry explained, the Wildcats didn’t have to help, and could stay with Penn State’s three-point shooters on the perimeter.

The solution in the second half was some good old-fashioned bully ball, initiated by sticking Jalen Pickett in the post.

“They want to take away this stuff, we’re going to get the ball near the basket and we’re going to force them to help or [Pickett’s] going to score layups,” Shrewsberry said. “He’s good at taking his time, backs guys up. Getting to the block’s not good enough, he backs guys into the concession stand.”

In response, Collins and the Wildcats turned to a look they must have seen on film.

Maryland went to a 3-2 zone down the stretch in Penn State’s loss to the Terps on Monday and it baffled the Nittany Lions.

Taking a page out of Danny Manning’s book, Collins brought out the same set-up. It worked for a few possessions, then Johnson unlocked it with a couple of corner threes that erased a five-point deficit.

The Nittany Lions never trailed again.

“Once they got to the 3-2 zone, it opened up a lot more space,” Johnson said. “So I was able to find spots on the court that were open and my teammates were able to find me.”