Last-place PSU tops Northwestern

The Associated Press

EVANSTON, Ill. — Jermaine Marshall and D.J. Newbill each scored 18 points to lead Penn State to a 66-59 victory over Northwestern on Thursday night.

Penn State (10-19, 2-15 Big Ten), last in the 12-team conference, scored the game’s first 12 points, withstood a Northwestern surge, then pulled away in the second half. The Nittany Lions’ only other conference win was at home against No. 7 Michigan on Feb. 27.

Northwestern (13-17, 4-13) has lost seven in a row and nine of its last 10.

Alex Marcotullio, who scored a career-high 22 points, put the Wildcats ahead 54-53 with a 3-pointer with 6:13 to play. But Penn State scored the next six points, beginning with Sasa Borovnjak’s short jumper, and scored 13 of the game’s last 18 points. Borovnjak had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Reggie Hearn, who scored 11 points before fouling out with 3:07 to play, was the only other Northwestern player in double figures.

Newbill opened the game with a jumper and a 3-pointer to kick off Penn State’s 12-point outburst. The Nittany Lions controlled the boards throughout, holding a 35-21 advantage.

Northwestern rallied to take the lead for the first time on Kyle Abrahamson’s layup with 4:46 left in a sloppy first half. His basket capped a 9-0 run that included a game-tying 3-pointer by Dave Sobolewski.

Michigan State 58, Wisconsin 43

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Keith Appling scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half to help No. 10 Michigan State pull away to beat No. 22 Wisconsin 58-43 on Thursday night and stay in the Big Ten race.

WOMEN Wisconsin 58, Illinois 57

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Morgan Paige scored 18 points, including two free throws with 3 seconds remaining, and 11th-seeded Wisconsin beat Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Ohio State 58, Minnesota 47

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Tayler Hill scored 25 points to help Ohio State beat Minnesota in the opening round of the Big Ten Conference tournament.

Green Bay 63, Loyola of Chicago 37

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Megan Lukan scored 19 points, Adrian Ritchie had 17 and No. 20 Green Bay won its 20th straight game by defeating Loyola of Chicago.

S. Carolina 77, Alabama 35

DULUTH, Ga. — Elem Ibiam scored 19 points, Ashley Bruner pulled down 14 rebounds and No. 17 South Carolina easily defeated Alabama in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.