Nov. 20, 2011
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UNCASVILLE, CONN.; Nov. 20, 2011 - Penn State (4-1) got a career-high 27 points from junior Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) to close out play in the 2011 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament Sunday with a 53-49 victory over South Florida (3-2) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
USF held a five-point lead, 43-38, with 5:07 to play when Penn State employed a trapping 1-2-2 press to create a pair of turnovers and reel of a 12-1 run to seize a 50-44 lead after a Billy Oliver top of the key three with 3:03 left.
USF answered with Blake Nash's third three of the second half to get back within three, 50-47, with 1:47 to go but would get no closer as Frazier hit a jumper and Matt Glover one of two at the line to seal Penn State's fourth victory of the season. Jermaine Marshall (Etters, Pa.) sparked Penn State with eight first half points on his way to 14 to join Frazier in double-figures for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions shot 52 percent in the second half after both team struggled at less than 30 percent shooting in the first half. Penn State logged 12 steals, led by three each from Frazier and Marshall, and caused 19 USF turnovers. There were eight ties and seven lead changes in the game.
USF was led by 14 points from Nash and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Toarlyn Fitzpatrick. Victor Rudd, Jr. entered the game leading USF averaging 16.5 ppg but was held to just four on 2-of-10 shooting. Senior 6-10 forward Augustus Gilchrist played only 13 minutes for the Bulls after leaving with two points and two boards in the first half with an injury.
Penn State tied the game three times, but did not lead in the second half until under four minutes remained. USF built as much as a six-point lead, 35-29, with 8:39 to play following a Rudd jumper. Penn State coach Patrick Chambers called a timeout and Penn State responded with a three from freshman Trey Lewis and a driving three-point play from Frazier to tie the game at 35 with 7:54 left.
USF pushed its lead back to four with four-straight at the foul line. Frazier answered with a pair of his own at the foul stripe, but Nash buried his second three to make it 42-37 with 5:58 to play. Penn State extended its defense and pushed up the tempo over the final five minutes to grab the win.
Both teams struggled through a rough shooting first half and went to the locker rooms tied at 17. Penn State got eight points from Frazier and Marshall and a free throw from Cammeron Woodyard (Westminster, Md.) to account for its points while shooting 22.7 percent from the floor and 1-of-12 from three.
The Penn State defense forced 12 first half turnovers from the Bulls and grabbed seven steals as USF managed just 26.7 percent shooting and 1-of-5 from three. Seven Bulls scored in the first stanza, but none more than three points.
USF jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but Penn State responded with an 11-0 run to claim a 13-8 advantage after a Marshall jumper. Marshall provided an early spark for the Lions converting a pair of three-point plays on and-one drives and getting a pair of steals while tipping a pass for another.
Penn State held USF scoreless for eight minutes while it extended its run to 14-2 and built a 16-10 lead as Tim Frazier hit the Lions first three with 4:45 to play in the half. Penn State scored just one point the rest of the way, however, as USF mounted a 7-0 run to take a 17-16 lead after a pair of Shaun Noriega free throws with 2:33 to go in the half. Woodyard made one of two at the line after being fouled on a put-back attempt to knot the score with 1:27 to play.
Penn State returns to the Jordan Center Wednesday when they take on Youngstown State in a 7:00 p.m. tip.
Season tickets for Nittany Lion Basketball are $200 for adults, $170 for faculty/staff and seniors, $80 for youth (18 and under) and $59 for students. PNC Flex Books are also available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions' Coaches Vs. Cancer game on Feb. 11 vs. Nebraska and the Lady Lions' Think Pink game on Feb. 26 vs. Minnesota.
Nittany Lion Basketball single-game tickets or group tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY, visiting GoPSUsports.com or through Ticketmaster. Single-game tickets are $18 for the lower bowl and $15 for upper level tickets for adults. Youth tickets (18 and under) are $7 for the lower bowl and $5 for upper level seating, while Penn State student tickets (University Park or branch campus) are $5. Penn State also offers special basketball group ticket rates for groups of 15 fans or more. Nittany Lion group rates are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Associate Athletic Communications Director Brian Siegrist on Twitter (@PSUSTRETCH) and check GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatebasketball.
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