Penn State had lost the game, and then it won.
The “Return to Rec Hall” went better than most people imagined.
Penn State trailed No. 12 Illinois by as many as 14 in the second half and ended up winning, 90-89.
A trio of free throws by Zach Hicks with four seconds left completed the comeback, and Penn State got the last stop it needed on the ensuing possession to seal the deal.
Here’s what the people of X (formerly Twitter) had to say.
BEDLAM IN STATE COLLEGE! Penn State rallies to shock Illinois by one. A signature victory for Mike Rhoades. An unfathomable collapse for the Illini.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 22, 2024
PSU just needs to have the rest of their home games at Rec Hall. The atmosphere is so much better there than the BJC.
— Eric Sosnowski (@EricSos) February 22, 2024
Just wait and see what Ace Baldwin, Nick Kern, D’Marco Dunn, and Jameel Brown have in store next year. pic.twitter.com/zyX5VvpGWB
— Erik (@Erikstotle) February 22, 2024
Check Coleman Hawkins FanDuel account
— ɹǝʇunH Badgett (@BadgettHunter) February 22, 2024
ALL RHOADES LEAD TO HAPPY VALLEY
— Mark (@TheYinzerLion) February 22, 2024
Losing to Psu puts you on the bubble
— RNB3 (@NevilleB53) February 22, 2024
WATCH Zach Hicks make his 3rd of 3 straight free throws w/ 4.2 seconds to go to give Penn State a 90-89 win over Illinois in Rec Hall…watch til the end for the court-storming pic.twitter.com/eHB3Uz61JF
— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) February 22, 2024
PLAY ALL THE GAMES IN REC HALL!
Penn State just knocked off No. 12 Illinois! Zack Hicks makes three free throws in the final 4.2 seconds to win 90-89.
First Court Storm of the Mike Rhoades era. pic.twitter.com/wPNeSncidP
— Allie Berube (@allieberube) February 22, 2024
DOWN GOES NO. 12 🚨@PennStateMBB comes back from down 14 to beat Illinois in their second Top 15 victory at home. pic.twitter.com/Fg4YtUcGnP
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 22, 2024
Rec Hall is a magical place
— Roar Lions Roar (@RLRblog) February 22, 2024
the current scene at Rec Hall pic.twitter.com/G1z8sQTb6D
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) February 22, 2024
Maybe they should play here more often 🤔 pic.twitter.com/nP9isn9BrH
— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) February 22, 2024
Illinois coach Brad Underwood:
“Wish we were back in the other place… That was a great environment for college basketball” pic.twitter.com/CKuaxKVSzN
— Max Ralph (@maxralph_) February 22, 2024
Sometimes it’s karma. Down 2, #PSU launches an ill-advised 3 and gets bailed out on a foul with 4.6 seconds left
and comes back to stun No. 12 Illinois. #RecHallMagic— Neil Rudel (@NeilRudel) February 22, 2024
#PennState students storm the court after the win, almost killing @hweikelphoto in the process 😅 https://t.co/ZMOoZgTT71 pic.twitter.com/sx3yv0JcK9
— Happy Valley Insider (@PennStateRivals) February 22, 2024
Take a front row seat and watch the ending to @PennStateMBB’s upset win over No. 12 Illinois. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/4vDw0XpULD
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 22, 2024
That is about as telling a quote as you can get. https://t.co/nT3vUYm9zs
— Penn State Talk (@PSURecruitTalk) February 22, 2024
Illinois’ Brad Underwood on playing Penn State in Rec Hall:
“Wish we were back in the other place.” pic.twitter.com/hAZnXuGLtm
— Spencer Ripchik (@RipchikSpencer) February 22, 2024
MONSTER UPSET AS PENN ST. (+250 ML) TAKES DOWN NO.12 ILLINOIS 😱
Anarchy? Nope. Just college basketball, @JonRothstein
(via @BigTenNetwork) pic.twitter.com/mJIXEW69OZ
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) February 22, 2024
Mike Rhoades opens tonight by thanking everyone who made the return to Rec Hall possible.
“I’ve been doing this a while. I’m just a super proud coach tonight… I thought we were great teammates tonight” pic.twitter.com/DfkSUlc8JY
— Max Ralph (@maxralph_) February 22, 2024
That’s it I made up my mind I never want to see Penn State play another game in the BJC again.
Rec Hall for life.
— Penn State Talk (@PSURecruitTalk) February 22, 2024
Rhoades gives a ton of credit to Zach Hicks who hasn't always shot the ball well at Penn State.
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) February 22, 2024
Rhoades on the adversity his team has faced in the last few weeks.
"I'm about tomorrow morning now. I move forward and I am proud of our guys," Rhoades said.
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) February 22, 2024
Penn State assistant head coach Joe Crispin told me before the season that he was confident this team “would never be boring.”
For all the ups and downs Penn State’s had this season, I’d say he was right.
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) February 22, 2024
