Sports - The Spectrum

SPORTS

Rolling through a Blizzard

By MEG LEACH | Dec. 4, 2012

Last year, the men's hockey team suffered a humiliating defeat in its own tournament at the hands of its cross-city rival. Losing two years in a row was not an option for the Bulls, (17-1) as they finished first in the Blizzard in Buffalo tournament over the weekend, with a 7-1 win over Slippery Rock (5-14) and an 8-3 finish over Canisius (15-5). The weekend started with the defense stepping up and making its presence known to the Rock Men at the start of the first period.

SPORTS

Three Bulls shine at Nittany Lion Open

By MARKUS MCCAINE | Dec. 4, 2012

The classic colors of Penn State, navy blue and white, were on display on the mats this weekend as the wrestling team traveled to University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lion Open proved to be a major tournament - for the Bulls, over 30 collegiate teams and over 500 wrestlers from up and down the East Coast and around the Midwest. "To be able to get into a big tournament, with that many competitors and that good of quality, is what you're looking for because we want to train for the [Mid-American Conference] Championships and the NCAA Championships," said head coach Jim Beichner.

SPORTS

From the track to the mat

By MEG LEACH | Dec. 2, 2012

When sophomore wrestler Jake Waste was 8 years old, he didn't just dream of slamming opponents on the mat.

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Bulls bested by Bison

Dec. 2, 2012

After falling to Duquesne (5-1) at home last Wednesday, the women's basketball team traveled to Lewisburg, Penn.

SPORTS

Rough return home

By OWEN O'BRIEN | Nov. 29, 2012

As students piled back into Alumni Arena on Wednesday night, nearly a week after Thanksgiving, they hoped to continue the feast with two energetic games of basketball.

SPORTS

Turning back the clock

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 29, 2012

Men's basketball head coach Reggie Witherspoon struggled to find a way to quantify his team's latest loss, before coming up with this statement: "It obviously wasn't a beauty contest." In a season in which Witherspoon's team is still trying to find its way on offense, things hit a new low Wednesday night.

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"Watson returns, Bulls seek revenge"

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 27, 2012

After getting back on the winning side of things with a 76-57 victory against Division II Mansfield University (1-1), the men's basketball team looks to take on what head coach Reggie Witherspoon calls "the best team they're going to play so far." And the Bulls will do it with the return of a much-needed scoring weapon. The Bulls (2-5) will play host to Temple (3-0) in the main event of a doubleheader at Alumni Arena on Wednesday. This is a team that is learning on the fly, hence the struggles early in the season. "We did take some losses early in the season, but it was something that we needed to go through," said senior guard Tony Watson.

SPORTS

A wishbone effort

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 27, 2012

After falling short at the NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and losing a tough battle to cross-town rival Canisius (3-1), the men's basketball team (2-5) took care of business against a vertically challenged opponent in Division II Mansfield (1-1). It was a result that was badly needed for the slumping Bulls - a team that was going through a litany of injuries during the week.

SPORTS

Football season comes to a close

By JOE KONZE JR | Nov. 27, 2012

The 2012 season, which was highlighted by a three-game winning streak against Mid-American Conference opponents, marked the highest win total for the football team under head coach Jeff Quinn. The Bulls (4-8, 3-5 MAC) finished the season winning three of four games to help erase the memories of a season that was plagued by injuries and missed opportunities. "Our mindset is about having a November, December tradition," Quinn said.

SPORTS

Bulls drop two straight over Thanksgiving break

By JON GAGNON | Nov. 27, 2012

While students traveled home for Thanksgiving, the women's basketball team hit the road to play in back-to-back games at the Dayton Marriott Classic. The Bulls (1-5) dropped both games to No.

SPORTS

"Bulls defeat D-II opponent, earn second win"

By AARON MANSFIELD | Nov. 24, 2012

It hasn't been an easy season thus far for the men's basketball team, but the squad forgot its woes and pounded an inferior opponent on Saturday night. The game was ugly at the outset, but the Bulls closed the first half on a 27-4 run to pull away from Division II Mansfield University.

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Falcons bash Bulls

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 24, 2012

While the nation celebrated Black Friday, the football team left its game collectively black and blue. The Bowling Green (8-4, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) defense stymied the Bulls' (4-8, 3-5 MAC) offense early and often, as the Falcons pulled off a 21-7 victory at the Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Bowling Green, which entered the game as the top defensive unit in the MAC, lived up to its ranking, holding an improving Bulls offense to 197 total yards, which included a meager 29 yards rushing.

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"Three up, three down"

By MARKUS MCCAINE | Nov. 18, 2012

The football team traveled to Foxboro on Saturday to play a UMass team that was supposed to be a pushover. After a rough first half, Buffalo (4-7, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) found a way to rally in the second half and survive a close shave at Gillette Stadium, defeating the Minutemen 29-19.

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Learning on the fly

By OWEN O'BRIEN | Nov. 18, 2012

Buffalo's young lineup proved to be unafraid of the spotlight. The many unproven underclassmen expected to play major minutes showed Friday night they are ready for the challenge. The Bulls (1-2) split their first two of a four-game road trip.

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Bulls drop final two games of tournament

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 18, 2012

It was a cold weekend for the men's basketball team. As temperatures dipped in Evansville, Ind. amid the Coaches vs.

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Shipping up to Boston

Nov. 15, 2012

The football team is one win away from producing its best record under head coach Jeff Quinn. The Bulls (3-7, 2-4 Mid-American Conference) have been on the winning side of games recently, knocking off Miami (4-6, 3-3 MAC) 27-24 on a last-second field goal two weeks ago and Western Michigan (4-7, 2-5 MAC) 29-24 last Saturday. Freshman quarterback Joe Licata has been impressive and has opened up the passing attack for the Bulls.

SPORTS

Bulls come up 'Aces' in victory over Evansville

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 15, 2012

It was the perfect finish for the perfect night - a much needed one for the men's basketball team.

SPORTS

Tomahawked

By NATHANIEL SMITH | Nov. 13, 2012

On Monday night, two teams with similar circumstances met in Tallahassee. Both had subpar efforts in their season-opening games after highly successful seasons.

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Tiger bait

By JON GAGNON | Nov. 11, 2012

With timely baskets from impact players and clutch play on defense, the men's basketball team scrapped its way back into the first game of the season. But when the noise in a packed Alumni Arena reached a crescendo - with time winding down on the shot clock - all dreams of a comeback fizzled away on a 30-foot bomb. The high expectations for this season's team took a step back Saturday afternoon, as a late 3-point shot sunk the Bulls (0-1). They lost a nail biter to Princeton (1-0), 57-53, in the season opener. After junior forward Javon McCrea hit one of two free throws, the Tigers had the ball and a 54-53 lead with 41 seconds remaining.

SPORTS

Lester pesters Western

Nov. 11, 2012

The football team's defense has struggled all season to force turnovers, posting a -12 turnover margin.