Brandon Taylor scored a game-high 25 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead Penn State University of the Big Ten Conference to a 93-67 men’s basketball victory past Longwood University on Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park.
The host Nittany Lions (4-1) led just 37-27 at halftime, before extending their margin to as many as 30 points in the second half, in the first game of the Barclays Center Classic presented by Continental Tire. Freshman Isaac Belton/Salem came off the bench to lead the Lancers (2-3) with a season-high 17 points. Longwood will play its second game of the four-game exempt tournament at St. John’s University of the BIG EAST Conference on November 26 at 7 p.m. at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York. The game against the Red Storm will be televised nationally on FOX Sports 1.
“They’re a good team, their two guards are really, really good and they do a great job of constantly attacking you,” said first-year head coach Jayson Gee. “I thought the biggest difference in the game was their post guy’s ability to shoot the basketball. We really didn’t have an answer for that, particularly with the depth in which they were shooting those three’s.
“I was really proud of our guys. They fought hard … coming off that loss Friday night and to turnaround in less than 48 hours and compete on a Big Ten floor was a positive thing.”
Penn State scored the first seven points of the game, including the first of five three-point field goals by Taylor, to lead 7-0 at 18:30. Senior Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach answered for Longwood, scoring five quick points on a jumper and three-pointer, to make it 9-5 at 17:32. After a jumper from D.J. Newbill made it 11-5, the Lancers used an 11-2 run to lead 16-13 at 10:42, getting a three-pointer from sophomore Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York and four points each from sophomore Leron Fisher/Baltimore, Maryland and redshirt-junior Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York. A three-pointer by Belton at 6:58 had Longwood within 23-21, and the visitors were still within 30-26 at2:27 following another Belton basket. The Nittany Lions, however, closed the half with a 7-1 run to lead 37-27 at halftime … Taylor (9) and Newbill (8) combining for 17 points.
Penn State scored the first eight points of the second half, making it a 15-1 run over the halves, to lead 45-27 at 17:46. Ross Travissparked the start with a pair of dunks in transition after making steals. Longwood battled back with a 12-4 run to close to within 49-39 at 14:39 remaining, as Dublin started the run with an old-fashioned three-point play and Carey finished it with a three-pointer and a jumper. The Lancers were hanging around and within 56-44 at 11:25 on another three-pointer by Carey, but the Nittany Lions took control with 14 unanswered points to lead 70-44 with 7:13 on the clock. Newbill started the outburst with a three-point play and scored five of the points, while Taylor added another three-pointer, as did Graham Woodward. Taylor’s final three-pointer gave the hosts their largest lead at 85-55 with 3:08 left, though Longwood fought to the end behind five points from Belton over the final 2:44.
Belton led Longwood with his season-high 17 points off the bench in 21 minutes, including 7-8 free throws. Dublin added a season-high 16 points off the bench, including 7-10 field goals, while Carey contributed 13 points (3-8 3FGs) for the Lancers. Longwood shot 40% (21-52) from the field, including 35% (7-20) on three-pointers and 75% (18-24) at the free throw line.
Taylor led Penn State with his team-high 25 points, making 5-9 three-pointers. Newbill had 23 points (7-10 FG, 8-11 FT), nine rebounds and seven assists, while Travis finished with a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Nittany Lions. Tim Frazier contributed nine points and a game-high eight assists. PSU shot 57% (32-56) from the field, including 38% (9-24) on three-pointers and 80% (20-25) at the line.
Longwood and Penn State were meeting for the first time in the sport, and it was only the third game ever against a Big Ten opponent (0-3).
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