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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Despite not playing its best basketball, the Cornell men's basketball team hung around all night but couldn't get over the hump in dropping a 74-67 decision at Penn State on Wednesday evening at the Bryce Jordan Center. Cornell slipped to 4-6 with the loss, while the Nittany Lions improved to 8-5.

Cornell freshman Shonn Miller had 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals to pace the Big Red, while Drew Ferry notched a game-high 20 points and chipped in six rebounds. Ferry nailed six 3-pointers. Galal Cancer was also in double figures with 10 points and seven assists. The Big Red was in constant foul trouble and was whistled for 29 fouls to just 13 against Penn State. The home team also forced Cornell into 16 turnovers.

Four players reached double figures for Penn State, led by 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists by Tim Frazier. Troy Lewis and Cammeron Woodyard had 13 points apiece, while Jermaine Marshall scored 12. Penn State held a 40-32 edge on the glass, including a 16-9 advantage on the offensive glass.

Cornell entered the game ranking among the national leaders in fewest 3-pointers allowed (5.2) and lowest opposing 3-point percentage (.269), while Penn State was shooting just .307 beyond the arc. Those numbers flew right out the window, as the Nittany Lions made 10-of-24 3-pointers. Cornell hit 11 triples of its own with six from Ferry and three more by Miller.

Much like on Monday at Illinois, Cornell made shots early to open up an eight point lead at 21-13 on a pair of free throws by Miller. Penn State took a brief lead in the sloppy first half on a jumper by Frazier with 2:37 remaining before halftime, but Cancer hit a pair of free throws to knot the game and then Ferry hit a 3-pointer to put the visitors back in the lead. Cornell was able to go into the break leading 31-30.

Because of foul trouble to Wroblewski and top post players Josh Figini and Eitan Chemerinski, as well as the loss of starting guard Miles Asafo-Adjei to illness, Cornell went with three freshmen on the court for much of the second half. Freshman Dave LaMore, who had seen action in just one game entering Penn State, had 13 productive minutes with four points, two rebounds and an assist. His hustle play to tip in a miss on the fastbreak tied the game at 55-55 with 6:26 left.

Penn State twice opened up a four point lead, but each time Cornell answered. When Chris Wroblewski hit a 3-pointer over a defender with under two minutes to play, the Big Red had again tied the contest (64-64). The Nittany Lions again pushed the lead to four on a pair of free throws by Marshall on what appeared to be an impressive clean block by Miller, followed by his driving layup after Wroblewski missed a potential game-tying jumper.

Ferry hit his sixth trey of the night to cut a six-point deficit to three with 20 seconds left, but Penn State salted the game away with four straight free throws sandwiched around a Big Red turnover.

The Big Red will take a few days off for the holiday before hitting the road again to meet Stony Brook on Wednesday, Dec, 28 at 7 p.m.