This game was different.
December clunkers against Western Michigan and Binghamton (and to a lesser extent Air Force) were a product of the Wolverines sleepwalking past lesser competition.
Penn State entered Ann Arbor Thursday night with the No. 24 defense nationally. It left with the No. 16 one.
It just so happened that John Beilein possesses the No. 2 unit, which held the visitors to .76 points per possession — and several ugly misses from three.
Michigan slowly muscled past the Nittany Lions 68-55, with the Top Plays coming courtesy of its trademark defense and patient offense.