SportsDirect Inc. Ad
SportsDirect Inc. Ad
SportsDirect Inc. Ad
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Penn St. 61, Virginia Tech 58
When: 7:15 PM ET, Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Where: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, Pennsylvania
Officials: # D.J. Carstensen, # Pat Driscoll, # Larry Scriotto
Attendance: 7326

Penn State 61, Virginia Tech 58: D.J. Newbill scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half as the Nittany Lions rallied from eight down to defeat the visiting Hokies in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Newbill, who came in averaging 25 points, did not score in the first 15 minutes of the game before Penn State (7-1) found a way to win its fifth straight contest. Freshman Shep Garner contributed 13 points while Ross Travis hauled in a team-high 10 rebounds as the Nittany Lions had a 47-38 edge on the boards.

Joey van Zegeren led the way with 18 points – despite going 0-of-7 from the free-throw line – and grabbed 10 rebounds for Virginia Tech (4-3). Freshman Justin Bibbs added 16 points and Ahmed Hill had nine rebounds, but missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer after Newbill missed two free throws.

Virginia Tech led by as many as seven in the first half, but Penn State scored the final nine points – including Newbill’s first five of the game – to take a 30-27 lead at intermission. The Hokies scored 15 of the next 19 points to open the second half, capped by Bibbs’ 3-pointer, for a 42-34 edge with under 12 minutes left.

John Johnson converted a three-point play and Newbill scored eight as the Nittany Lions ran off 14 straight points to move in front 48-42 with 6:17 to go. Virginia Tech fell behind by nine before pulling within 57-54 on Bibbs’ 3-pointer with 43.2 seconds left, but Johnson answered with a basket and Garner made two free throws as Penn State held on.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Penn State has won two of eight meetings with the Hokies – both in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (also winning in 2007). … Virginia Tech came into the game shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range before making 1-of-7 in the first half and 4-of-14 overall. … The Nittany Lions survived despite shooting 37 percent from the field and turning the ball over 17 times.
Top Game Performances
 
Virginia Tech   Penn St.
Joey Van Zegeren 18 Scoring D.J. Newbill 18
Devin Wilson 3 Assists Shep Garner 2
Joey Van Zegeren 10 Rebounds Ross Travis 10
Justin Bibbs 3 Free Throws Made D.J. Newbill 5
Devin Wilson 3 Steals Shep Garner 1
Satchel Pierce 1 Blocks Brandon Taylor 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Virginia Tech 58 38.5 4-14 4-14 11 34 1 8 8
Penn St. 61 37.0 4-24 17-30 4 47 4 4 17