Northwestern's Boo Buie (0) loses his footing while driving against Penn State's Nick Kern Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Brooks Barnhizer scored a career-high 23 points, Boo Buie had 17 points and eight assists and Northwestern beat Penn State 76-72 on Wednesday night for its first win in the series since the 2019-20 season.
Northwestern (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten), which snapped a five-game losing streak in the series, won at Penn State for the first time since Dec. 27, 2016.
Barnhizer made a reverse layup to give Northwestern a 72-65 lead with 1:50 remaining, but Kanye Clary answered with a 3-pointer at the other end. The Wildcats were called for an offensive foul on their next possession and Nick Kern Jr. made an open layup, off a nice drive and pass from Clary, to cut their deficit to 72-70.
Ryan Langborg went 1 of 2 at the stripe to extend Northwestern's lead to 75-72. Kern missed the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but he was whistled for a lane violation. Barnhizer sealed it with a free throw.
Ty Berry scored 16 points and made four 3-pointers for Northwestern.
Clary scored 25 points, going 10 of 10 from the free-throw line, for Penn State (8-8, 2-3). Kern added 14 points and Qudus Wahab had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Nick Martinelli made a hook shot with 11:25 remaining in the second half to give Northwestern its first lead, 56-55, of the game. It came during a 19-2 run — that included 15 straight points — as Penn State went six-plus minutes without making a field goal.
Penn State's D'Marco Dunn (2) attempts to keep possession of the ball from Northwestern's Ryan Langborg, standing, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State's Kanye Clary (0) shoots against Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State's Qudus Wahab (22) shoots over Northwestern's Luke Hunger (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State's Nick Kern Jr., left, steals the ball from Northwestern's Nick Martinelli (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State's Nick Kern Jr. (3) drives to the basket on Northwestern's Ryan Langborg (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Northwestern's Matthew Nicholson (34) attempts to knock the ball away from Penn State's Qudus Wahab (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Northwestern's Matthew Nicholson (34) reacts after being called for a foul on Penn State's Qudus Wahab (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State's Qudus Wahab (22) shoots over Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
Penn State's Boo Buie (0) drives to the basket on Northwestern's Luke Hunger (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
(AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)