Dec. 31, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -Geary Claxton scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Penn State ended its non-conference schedule by defeating Lehigh 81-68 on Monday afternoon.
Claxton's 21 first-half points helped the Nittany Lions (8-4) record their first five-game winning streak since 2002-03.
Claxton's strong first half helped Penn State keep pace with hot shooting Lehigh (6-6). The Mountain Hawks converted 6-of-10 from beyond the 3-point arc during the half and entered halftime tied 40-40.
Bryan White's jumper gave Lehigh a 47-44 lead, but Penn State went on a 9-0 run.
Nittany Lion Jamelle Cornley scored nine of his 12 points during the first 8:31 of the second half. Danny Morrissey added 13 points for Penn State, which forced 16 second-half turnovers.
Marquis Hall went 5-for-6 on 3-point attempts to lead Lehigh with 19 points. Zahir Carrington added 15 points for the Mountain Hawks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Penn State, which hasn't lost since falling at Saint Joseph's on Dec. 1, begins Big Ten play Wednesday at Northwestern.