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Nov. 23, 2014
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - D.J. Newbill scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and Penn State held off Southern Cal to take fifth place at the Charleston Classic with a 63-61 victory Sunday.
The Nittany Lions led by 13 points in the opening half, yet trailed 49-43 with under 10 minutes remaining. That's when Newbill sparked Penn State, scoring 10 of his team's next 13 points, including a 3-pointer that put the Nittany Lions ahead for good 56-54.
Southern Cal (2-3) was still within 62-60 on Jordan McLaughlin's foul shot with 1.3 seconds left. But Shep Garner made a foul shot with 0.7 seconds left to provide the final point.
It was the third nail-biting finish for the Nittany Lions in as many tournament games after a double-overtime loss, 106-97 loss to Charlotte on Thursday and a 72-71 buzzer-beating win over Cornell last Friday.
Katin Reinhardt led Southern Cal with 14 points.
Newbill's 83 points in the three games set a Charleston Classic record, surpassing the 78 points scored by St. Joseph's Carl Jones in 2011.
Penn State escaped playing in the seventh place game by the skin of its teeth Friday night, Newbill driving the baseline for a layup at the buzzer to beat Cornell. Newbill was front and center against Charlotte, too, with 35 points, the most by any Big Ten Conference player this season.
Newbill had a drive to the basket at the end of the first extra period Friday night that would've won it for Penn State, but his shot was blocked.
Against Southern Cal, Penn State hit six of its first 10 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers by Garner to lead the Trojans 15-2.
When Southern Cal followed with a 21-5 run to move in front, Garner answered with a tying 3 as part of Penn State's 11-7 charge to the half. Newbill hit a jumper as the half ran out to put his team ahead 31-30 at the break.
It's been a down-to-the-wire tournament for Penn State. It fell behind Charlotte by 17 points in Thursday's opener before forcing overtime. The Nittany Lions eventually lost in two extra periods, 106-97, Newbill's shot to win at the end of the first overtime getting blocked at the last moment.
Next up, Penn State returns home to host fellow Charleston Classic participant Akron Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.