Nov 21, 2001

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Brandon Watkins scored eight of his 15 points in the second half as Penn State rallied for a 75-66 victory over Lafayette Wednesday night.

Daren Tielsch hit a 3-pointer from the left corner with 16:39 remaining to give Penn State (1-1) its first lead since early in the first half.

Lafayette (1-1) regained the lead, but Jamaal Tate's 3-pointer in the second was the go-ahead basket and started a 17-4 run that put the Nittany Lions up 61-49 with 6:50 left.

After not shooting a single free throw in the first half, Penn State hit 17 of 18 in the second half to preserve the win.

Tielsch and Sharif Chambliss each scored 13 for the Nittany Lions, and Tyler Smith had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Justin DeBerry led the Leopards with 20 points, and Brian Burke had 14.

Lafayette took its biggest first-half lead, 28-15, when DeBerry converted a three-point play with 3:17 left.

The Nittany Lions answered with a 12-3 run, scoring five points in the final nine seconds, to pull within 31-27 at halftime.