PSU Student Gives Illinois Bench Double Birds After Insane Win

Getty Image / Michael Layton

College basketball is known for some wacky ending and comebacks. Whenever you combine very skilled players that still have issues keeping their composure against ball pressure and struggle to make foul shots with a raucous home court, wild things can happen.

That’s exactly what happened Wednesday night in State College. Penn State trailed by 7 points with less than 40 seconds to go, but stormed back to beat Illinois in hilarious fashion.

The game was played at Rec Hall, which normally hosts the Nittany Lions’ wrestling, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. But, it was the host of the Nittany Lions until 1995, when the much bigger Bryce Jordan Center (roughly 16,000 capacity) opened.

Penn State basically never fills the BJC, unless it’s a wrestling match. But, Rec Hall, at around 7,000 capacity, was packed for Penn State’s matchup against #12 Illinois.

Illinois controlled the entire basketball game, up until the last few minutes. Penn State got a ten-point lead down to seven with under a minute to go, and that’s when disaster struck for the Illini.

Turnovers, missed foul shots, plus some clutch Penn State basketballs gave the Nittany Lions the ball back with sixteen seconds left.

Murphy’s Law meant that Illinois fouled Zach Hicks on a three-point attempt. He knocked down all three foul shots. Illinois missed an incredible look at the buzzer, and Penn State had a signature in for first-year head coach Mike Rhoades.

That’s all fine and good, but take a look at this video, and watch the PSU student run to the Illinois bench and give them the ole double birds.