Battle, Penn State top Illinois in low-scoring affair

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/18/2009 - Champaign, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Talor Battle finished with a game-high 11 points, which included four key free throws in the final minute, as Penn State edged 18th-ranked Illinois, 38-33, in a low-scoring affair that saw both teams set a season-low in points.

Chris Babb and Andrew Jones each had seven points for Penn State (19-8, 8-6 Big Ten), which has won two in a row overall and three in a row at Illinois -- the first time the school has won three straight road games against a particular conference foe since joining the Big Ten in 1993. The Nittany Lions pulled out the win despite shooting 28.3 percent from the field and just 3- of-17 from three-point range. The team's previous season-low point total was in a 54-44 loss to Wisconsin on February 8.

Jones also collected eight rebounds, while Jamelle Cornley finished with seven boards and five points.

Chester Frazier and Trent Meachem each had seven points to pace Illinois (21-6; 9-5), which had its three-game win streak snapped. The Illini made 30 percent of their shots and 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, but didn't attempt a single free throw in the loss.

Illinois' previous low in points came on January 29, in a 59-36 loss to Minnesota.

Almost five minutes into the second half, neither team had cracked 20 points. But Cornley's free throw gave Penn State a 20-19 lead just before the five- minute mark.

However, Illinois responded with a 10-0 run, which Demetri McCamey started with a layup and ended with a three-pointer to put the Illini ahead 29-20 just before the midway point.

It was the largest lead either team held to that point, but Penn State took the lead back with a 14-2 run. Battle began it with a layup and ended the surge with a jumper to give the Lions a 34-31 edge with just under 2 1/2 minutes to play.

Mike Tisdale, who finished with six points and 10 boards, responded with a jumper, and the teams missed their next few shots. The game went into the final minute with PSU holding a 34-33 lead, and Battle made it to the free throw line with 16.6 seconds left, making both shots.

McCamey missed a three at the other end and Battle grabbed the rebound in the ensuing scrum for the ball. He was fouled with 2.0 on the clock and again made two free throws to seal the PSU win.

Neither team reached double-figure scoring until Andrew Ott's layup gave Penn State an 11-6 lead with a little over nine minutes left in the first half. Cammeron Woodyard followed with a layup for the Lions for a seven point lead.

Illinois scored the next five points, and Penn State went into halftime with a 17-15 lead.

Game Notes

Penn State made 9-of-11 free throw attempts...Mike Davis ended with nine rebounds and four points for the Illini...Each team had 32 rebounds.

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FOOTBALL BETTING

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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