Nov. 12, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., NOV. 11, 2007 - Despite a slow first half, the Penn State men's basketball team used an 11-0 run to start the second half and 23 points from Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn.) to knock off St. Francis, 74-64, in the season-opener at the Bryce Jordan Center on Monday.
Despite shooting under 35 percent in the first half, the Nittany Lions finished the first half with Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) and Stanley Pringle (Virginia Beach, Va.) knocking down their first career three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, which sent the Lions into the break with a 33-29 lead.
A pair of Claxton baskets and a Mike Walker (Lewisberry , Pa.) three-pointer keyed the 11-0 run to start the second half. From there, St. Francis responded, but the Lions pulled away to take the 10-point victory.
Claxton scored 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting to lead the Nittany Lions. He also pulled down 10 rebounds. Battle recorded 12 points in his Nittany Lion debut. D.J. Jackson (Farrell, Pa.) chipped in with 10 points.
Grant Suprenant paced St. Francis with 20 points.
More to follow...