Hicks' Hot Hand Leads Penn State Over Michigan in Big Ten Tourney

The madness of March was in full swing on Wednesday as the Big Ten Tournament tipped off in Minneapolis. In a first-round clash between 11th-seeded Penn State and 14th-seeded Michigan, it was the Nittany Lions who emerged victorious, thanks to a scorching performance from junior guard Zach Hicks.

Hicks was unconscious from beyond the arc, knocking down a career-high six 3-pointers en route to a game-high 20 points. His long-range marksmanship proved to be the difference-maker, as Penn State pulled away in the second half for a 66-57 victory over the struggling Wolverines.

“Zach was locked in today,” said Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry. “When he gets going like that, he’s tough to stop. His shooting really opened things up for us offensively.”

Hicks’ first trey didn’t come until the final four minutes of the first half, but it sparked a 10-0 run that gave the Nittany Lions a double-digit lead heading into the break. He continued his onslaught after halftime, burying two more triples to help Penn State push its advantage to as many as 15 points.

While Hicks provided the fireworks, senior guards Ace Baldwin Jr. and Andrew Funk also played pivotal roles. Baldwin chipped in 17 points and six assists, while Funk added nine points, five rebounds and relentless defensive energy.

For Michigan, the loss marked a dismal end to a forgettable season. The Wolverines have now dropped nine straight games and finished the year with a disappointing 8-24 record. Terrance Williams II led the way with 15 points in the defeat.

With the win, Penn State advances to the second round, where it will face sixth-seeded Indiana on Thursday. The Nittany Lions split their two regular-season meetings with the Hoosiers, so another tightly contested battle is expected.

For now, though, Shrewsberry and his squad can savor Hicks’ heroics and their hard-fought victory over Michigan. In a single-elimination tournament setting, surviving and advancing is all that matters – no matter how pretty or ugly the wins may be.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Shrewsberry said. “Today was about Michigan. Tomorrow, it’ll be all about Indiana. As long as we stick together and keep battling, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

With Hicks shooting the lights out, Penn State’s chances of making some March noise look brighter than ever.