Penn State Wins in OT, Rutgers Upsets Ohio State in Big Ten Tourney

A few minutes before the opening tip, the mascots were shadowboxing at mid-court. Then the Rutgers Scarlet Knight pulled out his sword and the Ohio State buckeye scampered away.

That’s pretty much how the ensuing basketball game went. Rutgers pounded Ohio State into submission on the offensive glass, registering a landmark 66-57 victory in Wednesday’s Big Ten Tournament opener.

It was a fitting way for the 14th-seeded Scarlet Knights (15-17) to earn the program’s inaugural win in this event.

“This is the start of a new era,” junior guard Mike Williams said. “I feel like we’re more locked in than I’ve ever seen us.”

Rutgers has out-worked more talented teams many times this season, often to no avail. The lopsided hustle numbers tipped the outcome here: 19-7 on the offensive glass and 22-6 in second-chance points.

Penn State 76, Nebraska 67 (OT)

Penn State and Nebraska each entered the Big Ten tournament on a losing streak.

The Nittany Lions had cooled off and lost five straight. The struggling Cornhuskers limped into the Verizon Center on a four-game skid.

Neither looked ready to give in Wednesday afternoon at the Verizon Center.

No. 13 seed Penn State held off a challenge from No. 12 seed Nebraska for a 76-67 overtime victory, a promising sign for a Nittany Lions team full of young talent.

"Penn State basketball is inching closer, for sure," coach Pat Chambers said. "We don't have a senior on the team. That bodes very well for our future."

The immediate future includes Thursday's matchup with fifth-seeded Michigan State, which the Nittany Lions upset 72-63 in their lone meeting this season in Philadelphia.

Penn State (15-17) led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but the Cornhuskers found life late.

Penn State was led by Mike Watkins, who posted a tournament-record eight blocks to go with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Nebraska (12-19) tied the game at 58 on Glynn Watson Jr.'s step-back 3-pointer with 55 seconds left. Tony Carr hit two free throws to make it 60-58 Penn State before a layup with two seconds left by Ed Morrow Jr., sent the game into overtime.

Penn State fans argued that it looked like Carr had been fouled on the Nittany Lions' last possession in regulation.

Webster, who had 12 points for Nebraska, fouled out with 3:24 left in overtime and the Cornhuskers trailing 63-60. The Nittany Lions outscored Nebraska 16-7 in overtime.

NEXT UP TODAY:

Game 3 -- Illinois vs. Michigan, 11 a.m.

Game 4 -- Penn State vs. Michigan State, 12:30 p.m.

Game 5 -- Indiana vs. Iowa, 5:30 p.m.

Game 6 -- Rutgers vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m.