Column: Different year, same problem | Men’s basketball plagued by late-game struggles

Penn State men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades puts his hands on his head in Penn State men's basketball's game against Saint Francis in the Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Red Flash 92-62.When Penn State entered its 2024-25 season, it was a new year with some new faces.

Despite those new aspects, the Nittany Lions have continued to be plagued by the same problem that’s hindered them for years: Their inability to consistently close out games.

Before the season, coach Mike Rhoades spoke on building “sustainable success” at Penn State. However, after losing several winnable games, the first task to building that success has to be…