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Illinois has no answers for red-hot Pickett, Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Some teams — and some players — are just going to have your number.

And on Tuesday night, that team was Penn State. And the player? Jalen. MF. Pickett.

Pickett had a career night, starting with his 2,000th career point, and ending with 41 points in a 93-81 win over Illinois at Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions, who beat the Illini by 15 at State Farm Center in early December, are the first team to sweep Illinois since Purdue in the 2021-22 season.

Pickett, a senior who transferred to State College in 2021 after three seasons at Siena, was unstoppable in the first half, finishing with 24 points.