Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542734
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6 17 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M FIVE YEARS AGO, 2021 The 2020-21 wrestling season got off to a tentative start, with three of Penn State's first six dual meets postponed (and eventually canceled) due to COVID pro- tocols. A much-anticipated Feb. 12 clash against Iowa was one of the duals that had to be called off, but the Lions were able to take the mat two days later against Michigan. Except for all the cardboard cutouts aimed at creating the illusion of a full house in Ann Arbor, it was business as usual. The Wolverines were ranked second in the InterMat Tournament Power In- dex, one spot ahead of Penn State, but the Lions won four of the first five bouts before Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks dropped the hammer at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Starocci topped Michigan's second-ranked Logan Massa, 7-1, serving notice that he was ready to compete for the national championship as a redshirt freshman. Michigan fought back with victories at 197 and heavyweight, but Penn State had built an insurmountable lead and cap- tured the dual meet, 18-13, to give Cael Sanderson his 200th victory as a colle- giate head coach. 10 YEARS AGO, 2016 The PSU men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 68-63 win over No. 21 Indiana on Feb. 6, but the highlight of the month was an even bigger upset — a 79-75 stunner over No. 4 Iowa on Feb. 17 at the Bryce Jordan Center. PSU had gotten pounded by the Hawk- eyes, 73-49, just two weeks earlier in Iowa City, but the rematch was a different kind of game altogether. In the earlier meet- ing, the Lions had made just 1 of 20 three- point attempts; this time, they hit 10 of 28. "You give a team 10 threes, and … that's going to open things up," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. A dunk by forward Donovon Jack gave PSU a 38-31 edge at halftime, and the Nit- tany Lions held onto their lead through- out the second half. Jack finished with a team-high 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor, while guards Shep Garner and Brandon Taylor had 18 points apiece. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates, Brandon and Shep passing me the ball," Jack said after escaping from the court-storm that followed Penn State's second victory of the month over a ranked opponent. "It was all I could hope for. A big win for us." 25 YEARS AGO, 2001 Penn State opened February with a tough 85-78 overtime loss to Indiana at the BJC, but Jerry Dunn had built a resil- ient team in his sixth season as men's bas- ketball head coach, and the Nittany Lions responded to the disappointing loss to the Hoosiers by putting together a three- game win streak, with all the victories coming by double digits. Penn State handed visiting Michigan a 77-66 loss on Feb. 7 and followed it with wins over Minnesota (82-62, Feb. 14) and Purdue (92-71, Feb. 17). In its road victory over the Gophers, Penn State hit 12 of 25 three-point attempts, dealing second- year coach Dan Monson his worst loss at Williams Arena. The Nittany Lions led by 27 points with just under four minutes to play, prompting Monson to pull his schol- arship players and finish the game with walk-ons. Penn State was even tougher on the Boilermakers three nights later at the BJC. Behind guard Joe Crispin (20 points) and forward Gyasi Cline-Heard (13 points, 9 rebounds), the Lions led by 35 points with 8:27 to play and went on to extend the Boilers' losing streak to five games, which was tied for their longest in 21 seasons under head coach Gene Keady. — Matt Herb This Month In Penn State Athletics History Guard Shep Garner had 18 points to help lift Penn State to a 79-75 victory over No. 4 Iowa on Feb. 17, 2016. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS