STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Geary Claxton has accepted that his playing time at Penn State is over. Now, both he and the Nittany Lions have to move on.

Claxton started 100 of his 102 games at Penn State and scored in double figures in all but 15 contests. But that run of consistency came to a halt when the 6-foot-5 swingman sustained a season-ending knee injury in a game against Wisconsin.

“It was tough, but I accepted the fact that I’m done here,” the Nittany Lions senior forward said Monday, nearly two weeks after tearing the ACL in his left knee in a 80-55 home loss to Wisconsin. “I had a good career here and I had a lot of fun times, and I’m just planning to move on.”

Claxton will start by having surgery Wednesday to repair the knee. Then, he begins the rehabilitation process he hopes will take no more than six months.

“That’s what I’m shooting for,” Claxton said.

Penn State (10-9, 2-5 Big Ten) has lost its last five games, the better part of four of the losses coming without Claxton. The losing streak comes after the Nittany Lions had won seven straight.

The Nittany Lions were a different team with Claxton in the lineup. They were averaging 71.7 points and pulling down more than 40 rebounds per game. Without him, they have managed 52.8 points and 24 rebounds per game.

Claxton watched the home losses to Wisconsin and Purdue from the bench. Restricted from flying because doctors didn’t want him to risk aggravating the injury, Claxton watched road losses to Indiana and Iowa on television.

It was very frustrating for the soft-spoken Claxton.

“The only thing I can do is just keep encouraging the guys and tell them keep playing hard,” Claxton said. “Just cheer for them from the bench.

“They can do it. It’s just self-confidence and playing together without me. They’ve just got to play hard.”

Claxton said he has received support from across the country. Wisconsin sent him a card signed by the team, and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Illinois coach Bruce Weber have offered encouragement.

Widely considered to be the first Nittany Lions player since center Calvin Booth with serious NBA potential, Claxton hasn’t abandoned his hopes of playing at the next level.

First, he wants to put all his energy into getting healthy.

“I just have to keep working. I’m not really focused on that,” he said. “When the time comes and next basketball season is on, I’ll start thinking about that.”