Games I wish I'd seen on 11 December 2013

There were only 18 games yesterday, two involving non-Division I teams.  There wasn't much to choose from then and there isn't going to be much to choose from tonight.  However, the one game yesterday that involved a Top 25 team turned out to be a game I wish I'd seen.

#12 Penn State (6-3) travels to South Dakota State (7-4) and is upset 83-79.  South Dakota State has always been as feisty as their Jackrabbit mascot, and they beat Penn State in the battle of offensive boards 15-7.  Even though South Dakota State lost the battle of free throw percentage, the Lady Lions were kind enough to send South Dakota to the line 33 times, committing 24 personal fouls.

South Dakota State opened the game with a 22-9 run and led 55-35 at halftime.  In the second half, it was Penn State's turn to make a 24-9 run to cut the lead to 69-61.  Another 9-0 run later in the game put the score 78-77 with 1:17 left on the clock.  But SDSU held on, and senior guard Steph Paluch iced the win by hitting a pair of free throws with three seconds left on the clock.

Saint Peter's (1-7) beat Fairleigh Dickinson (1-7) 62-56 on the road.  The Peahens crawl into the win column for the first time this season, helped along by a 21 percent shooting performance by the Knights.  This was an ugly game in more ways that one, with both teams totaling 51 personal fouls. 

The player of the game would have to be senior Peahen guard Aziza May, with 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting.  The only teams left in NCAA Division I that are winless are:

Massachusetts-Lowell (0-10)
Long Island (0-8)
Texas-Arlington (0-8)
New Orleans (0-7)
Alabama A&M (0-6)
Prairie View A&M (0-6)