Zach Hicks scored 20 points and Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in 17 as host Penn State nipped visiting Northwestern 84-80 in a controversial Big Ten contest Thursday in University Park, Pa.The Wildcats trailed by a bucket in the waning seconds, when an inadvertent whistle erased a goaltending call — and a potential easy putback that would have tied the game. After a review, Northwestern turned it over with another chance to draw even before Baldwin made two free throws to seal it.Puff Johnson scored 11 points, Fred Dilione V added 10 and Yanic Konan Niederhauser chipped in nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Nittany Lions (12-2, 2-1). Baldwin added seven assists and five steals to complement his 15-of-16 performance from the foul line.Brooks Barnhizer led Northwestern (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten) with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Nick Martinelli contributed 18 points for the visitors.Ty Berry gave Northwestern a 75-73 lead with his 3-pointer with roughly five minutes to go, but Penn State responded with seven straight points. Niederhauser’s dunk tied the game before Baldwin’s transition layup — his only field goal of the contest — put the hosts ahead. Hicks’ three-point play gave the Nittany Lions an 80-75 lead with 3:05 left.Northwestern chipped away, and Martinelli’s two free throws made it 82-80 with 49 seconds left, setting up the bizarre finish.