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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 10, 2006 - Led by an inspired effort by sophomore Jamelle Cornley (Columbus, Ohio), Penn State (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) improved to 81-30 all-time in season openers as the Nittany Lions tipped off their 111th season of basketball with a 63-46 victory over Morehead State. It marked the second-straight season-opening win for Penn State and the Nittany Lions improved to 8-3 in their first game of a season in the Bryce Jordan Center as 7,420 fans looked on.
"I thought we played very well the first half," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. "We defended them well. Offensively we're pretty methodical, but we're trying to find our way there. Overall it was good to get the first win and play everyone and hopefully knock the rust off and get ready for Monday night."
The powerful Cornley took over the game in stretches and posted his second career double-double with 18 minutes remaining in the game. He logged a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds (the second-best total of his career) despite playing just 25 minutes. Cornley left the game for a period in the second half with some pain in his leg, but was checked out by team doctors and returned to the game late in the half.
"I think (Cornley) took the game over and it was very important," DeChellis said. "I think everybody needs to step up; everybody's got to do their part. I'm trying to emphasize that everybody's got to step up and help."
Senior point-guard Ben Luber (Richboro, Pa.) had a strong outing with 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Danny Morrissey (Cleveland, Ohio) and Mike Walker (Lewisberry, Pa.) both had nine points on the night. Morrissey, who started in place of injured pre-season All-Big Ten pick Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn.) who had a string of 60-straight starts ended, hit his first shot of the game, a three from the left wing, and had a career-best six rebounds in his first official game since missing last season with a torn patella tendon. Walker went a career-best 3-for-3 from the three-point line for all of his points and added three assists.
Penn State took a 13-point lead into the half at 29-16 after a strong surge from Cornley broke open a close game. With Penn State leading 15-14 with 6:16 left in the half and both teams struggling from the field, Cornley took a nice dish from Morrissey and scored a lay-up for the first of six-straight points by the the 2006 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year that fueled an 8-0 Penn State run. Cornley also hit two jumpers and grabbed four rebounds during the three-minute spurt as Penn State took a 23-14 lead.
A late three-pointer by Mooch Jackson (Gaithersburg, Md.) sent Penn State to the locker room on a roll as Penn State took advantage of a cold shooting Morehead State team that hit just 7-of-30 (23 percent) in the first half.
Cornley came out strong in the second half as well posting six points and three rebounds in the first four minutes as Penn State extended its lead to 19 points, 37-18, at the 15:56 mark. Both teams went cold with neither scoring for the next three minutes until Morehead's Shaun Williams, who led the Eagles with 18 points, hit a pair of free throws. Luber ended the drought from the field as he hit a three-pointer for a 40-20 Penn State lead at 11:50. Penn State pushed the lead to as many as 26 after a Walker three and a pair of free throws from freshman D.J. Jackson (Farrell, Pa.) who logged five points and four boards in 24 minutes of action.
Penn State will practice Saturday and Sunday before returning to action Monday night at 7:30 p.m. vs. UNC-Greensboro in the Bryce Jordan Center. That game can be heard live on the Penn State Sports Network and at GoPSUsports.com. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the ticket section of GoPSUsports.com or by calling the ticket office at 814-865-5555. Penn State men's single game tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and youth (under 18).