Penn State looks to end five-game skid against Ohio State

The Nittany Lions will host the Ohio State Buckeyes in their first home conference game of the season on Saturday at 6 p.m.

On Wednesday night, the blue and white lost their only game of conference play so far against Maryland, falling short in overtime 81-75.

Penn State is currently on a five-game losing streak and their overall record has plummeted to 4-5 on the season.

Ohio State comes into the Bryce Jordan Center with an 8-1 record, with their only loss coming against Texas A&M in early November.

The Buckeyes were dominant in their one game of conference play when they hosted Minnesota last Sunday, coming out on top 84-74.

It will be a tough matchup for the Nittany Lions, who are yet to prove that they can beat an elite team.

The talent is there for Penn State, it’s just a matter of a few issues late in games that lead to defensive breakdowns and issues rebounding the ball.

Qudus Wahab is the big man down low for the blue and white, and he has been a steady force in the paint all season, averaging almost a double-double with 10.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

He’ll be matching up against Felix Okpara, the 6-foot-11 sophomore who has been a defensive nightmare for opposing teams.

Okpara is averaging 2.4 blocks per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. This elite shot blocking will pose a major threat to Penn State’s interior offensive and especially to Wahab’s scoring in the paint.

Offensively, the two teams are quite the opposite. Penn State does the majority of its damage by driving to the paint and cutting to the rim, while Ohio State relies heavily on its stellar 3-point shooting.

The Buckeyes are first in the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage at 40.1% and are second in total three-pointers made.

On the flip side, the Nittany Lions have struggled to shoot the ball from beyond the mark, only converting on 29.7% of their attempts.

Ohio State’s offense is lethal, and it all begins with their point guard Bruce Thornton, who leads the team and scoring and assists.

Thornton is a great shooter, but he also does a great job of dishing it out to the other shooters around him, such as Jamison Battle and Roddy Gayle Jr., who are also double-digit scorers.

Penn State will have to focus on limiting open 3-point attempts, as the Buckeyes have proven all season to drill open shots from anywhere.

On offense, the Nittany Lions are led by Kanye Clary and his team-best 16.2 points per game.

His drive and kick game is the general offensive game plan, with fellow guard Ace Baldwin Jr. also getting some opportunities to facilitate the ball.

Forwards Zach Hicks, Puff Johnson and Leo O’Boyle have struggled shooting the ball this year, but Hicks in particular is starting to come around as of late.

The blue and white will have to find success from outside the perimeter to keep up with Ohio State’s high-scoring offense.

Penn State has been competitive in every game they’ve played so far, it’s just been a matter of finishing out games strong.

Ohio State as the higher-ranked team has the advantage, but this game can go either way if the Nittany Lions can play to the level they know they are capable of.

Christopher Reynolds is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.