Men's Basketball Drops 66-45 Decision to Penn State

(boxscore)

12/13/06 -- Junior Kellen Allen (Mansfield, Texas) had a team-high 12 points but the Long Island University men's basketball team could not hang on to a 29-28 halftime advantage and fell to Big Ten foe Penn State, 66-45, at the Bryce Jordan Center on Wednesday evening.

Senior Aubin Scott (Hempstead, N.Y.) narrowly missed his third straight double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.

The Nittany Lions had as much as a seven-point lead in the first 20 minutes, but Long Island shot 46 percent from the field in the half and used a late 11-3 run to take the lead to the locker room. Scott drained a three with a second left on the clock for the Blackbird 29-28 halftime advantage.

The Nittany Lions clamped down on defense in the second half, however, holding LIU to just six field goals and 6-of-20 shooting (30 percent). Meanwhile, Penn State heated up, shooting 56 percent (14-25) and owned the boards turning a stalemate at the half into a season-high 17-rebound edge on the glass, 39-22, for the game.

Six Nittany Lions scored in the run to start the half and a Mike Walker three and a bucket by Geary Claxton in the lane capped the spurt, giving Penn State a 48-33 lead with 11:23 to play.

LIU battled back and cut the margin to eight at 50-42 following a three-pointer by James Williams (DeSoto, Texas) and a free throw from Scott.

Penn State scored the next 12 points over the following five minutes forcing four missed buckets by LIU and two turnovers to put the game away with a 62-42 lead with 2:05 to play.

The Nittany Lions were led by Claxton, who posted his third-straight double-double and the 12th of his career with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Mooch Jackson added 12 points.

Long Island continues its three-game road trip on Friday, Dec. 15 at Binghamton. The Blackbirds defeated the Bearcats, 73-59, in the season opener.