Mike Rhoades’ frustration grows after Penn State’s close loss to No. 2 Michigan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades did not try to hide his frustration after the Nittany Lions’ 74–72 loss to No. 2 Michigan on Tuesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. Despite pushing an undefeated, championship-level team to the final buzzer, Rhoades made it clear that being close is not good enough.
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“I want to win,” Rhoades said after the game. “I didn’t come here to be close. I hate losing.”
Penn State started the game strong, jumping out to a 12–6 lead behind 10 early points from 7-foot center Ivan Jurić. The Nittany Lions’ offense slowed down after that, shooting just 31.4 percent in the first half. Even so, Penn State stayed within reach and went into halftime trailing Michigan 40–31.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Penn State opened with energy and put together a quick 6–0 run, but Michigan answered and built its lead back up to 53–40. The Wolverines stayed in control for most of the half, yet Penn State continued to fight.
Late in the game, the Nittany Lions made a strong push. Free throws from Josh Reed and Eli Rice, along with a big three-pointer from Melih Tunca, cut Michigan’s lead to 73–72 with just over a minute left. Penn State then got a defensive stop and had a chance to take the lead, but guard Freddie Dilione V missed a mid-range shot. After Michigan made one of two free throws, Penn State had one final shot, but Dilione’s off-balance three-pointer missed at the buzzer.
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The loss dropped Penn State to 0–4 in Big Ten play, but the team has been competitive in nearly every conference game. Outside of one blowout loss to Indiana, the Nittany Lions have lost three games by single digits, including close matchups against Michigan State, Illinois, and now Michigan.
Rhoades acknowledged his team’s effort but emphasized that effort alone is not enough.
“Our guys showed fight,” he said. “But we have to find a way to win.”
Penn State is one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten, and Rhoades believes growth will come. Still, the message is clear: close losses are no longer acceptable. The Nittany Lions now turn their focus to learning how to finish games and turn strong performances into wins.
