Penn State advances with third win over Illini this season

By The Associated Press
Penn State's Jalen Pickett (22) celebrates with Camren Wynter after scoring and getting fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois at the Big Ten men's tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Chicago. Penn State won 79-76. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Charles Rex Arbogast]

CHICAGO (AP) — Andrew Funk hit five of his six 3-pointers and scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half as Penn State defeated Illinois 79-76 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. Camren Wynter scored 18 points and Seth Lundy had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the 10th-seeded Nittany Lions, who will take on second-seeded Northwestern in Friday’s quarterfinals. Jalen Pickett, who came in averaging 18 points per game and scored a combined 61 points in two regular-season wins over the seventh-seeded Fighting Illini, had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 19 points, Coleman Hawkins 17 and Dain Dainja 13 for Illinois. A 3-pointer by Illinois as time ran out provided the final margin.

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