Nov. 17, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., Nov. 17, 2008 - The Penn State men's basketball team came out firing in the second half, posting a 14-0 run at one point, and defeated a game NJIT team, 74-47, Monday in its first game of the 2008 Philly Hoop Group Classic at the Bryce Jordan Center. With the win Penn State improved to 2-0 on the season and extended its home-court win streak to seven games, its longest since winning seven straight between 1998-99 and 1999-2000. It also marked Penn State's 12th-straight home win over a non-conference opponent dating to 2006.
Sophomore Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) again led the way for the Nittany Lions scoring 16 points on 4-7 from the three-point arc and added a career high tying six assists, five boards and only one turnover in a team-high 32 minutes.
The Nittany Lions lead NJIT (0-2) by as many as 32, and outscored the Highlanders 37-18 in the second half as NJIT shot just 5-of-26 (19 percent) from the floor in the second 20 minutes. Sophomore David Jackson (Farrell, Pa.) posted 13 points, going 4-of-7 from the field. Jackson had three, three-point plays in the game for the fourth double digit-scoring game his career. Danny Morrissey (Cleveland, Ohio) added 12 on 4-of-8 from three and Stanley Pringle (Virginia Beach, Va.) had 10 as Penn State overcame 19 turnovers in a game marred by 46 fouls and 43 turnovers.
NJIT, which went 0-29 last season, committed 24 turnovers and shot just 26 percent (13-50) from the floor, but managed to stay close in the first half using five three-pointers and 11 Penn State turnovers.
"I thought we just picked up our defensive energy," Jackson said of Penn State's second half. "We were able to use our press and get them out of their rhythm and change up defenses a little bit more. I think they got a little bit confused. We forced a few turnovers and forced them into some bad shots."
Leading 37-29 at the half, Penn State came out shooting in the second 20 minutes. Pringle and Battle hit back-to-back three pointers to give the Nittany Lions a 45-31 lead. Jamelle Cornley converted a three-point play, getting fouled on a lay-up, to give Penn State a 50-34 lead. On the ensuing possession, Cornley hit Andrew Jones as he cut through the lane and made the lay-up, for a 52-34 lead and 15-5 run to start the second half. A three-pointer by sophomore Jeff Brooks (Louisville, Kent.) and a free-throw from Chris Babb (Arlington, Texas) gave Penn State its largest lead of the game, 74-42, with 3:02 to play. Fellow freshman Cammeron Woodyard (Westminster, Md.) netted six points on a pair of second half threes going 2-of-3 from the arc.
The Nittany Lions shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and 45 percent for the game, going 13-of-27 (48 percent) from three. Penn State scored 41 points, over half their total, off Highlander turnovers and dominated in the paint, outscoring NJIT 20-8.
Penn State tipped off the game with a 5-0 run via a Jackson lay-up followed by a Cornley bank jump-shot. NJIT battled back with a 6-0 run. Battle hit two consecutive three pointers within 40 seconds and Jackson made a lay-up and was fouled, converting the three-point play to give the Nittany Lions a 21-14 lead.
After a Brendon Lyn two-point jumper for NJIT, Morrissey hit two consecutive three-pointers giving the Nittany Lions a 28-16 lead, and a 13-2 run in just over six minutes.
"For him to hit those shots, it really gave us confidence and more energy on a defensive end." Jackson said. "I think a lot of it was that they were hitting tough shots (in the first half). After talking it over in the locker room, we were able to do some good things defensively in the second half. Danny's shots were big."
Following the run by the Nittany Lions, NJIT went on a 10-2 run, with help of a string of Penn State turnovers and eight consecutive free-throws made by the Highlanders. NJIT had nine points off the Lions 11 first half turnovers.
Penn State takes on Hartford Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Jordan Center in its second game of the Hoop Group Classic. The Nittany Lions will also play two games at the Philadelphia Palestra, Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, as part of the Classic.
Nittany Lion basketball tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office during regular business hours at 814-865-5555 or visiting GoPSUsports.com anytime. Penn State basketball offers the most flexible ticket package ever with the 2009 FLEX pack. For just $99 fans can receive 10 vouchers that can be redeemed in any quantity, bring one friend or nine, for any men's or women's game on any date. You pick the games, the dates and the number of tickets that work for you. The Penn State Basketball FLEX Pack - now our schedule fits yours!
-NITTANY LIONS-