D.J. Newbill scored 22 points and Penn State survived Delaware State's second-half surge in an 80-76 overtime victory Saturday.
Tyshawn Bell hit a contested 3-pointer to give the Hornets a three-point lead with 1:24 remaining in overtime. But Jermaine Marshall, who finished with 15 points, answered with a 3-pointer to tie game at 76-all.
Newbill's layup on the next Penn State possession put the game away for the Nittany Lions (6-4), who have won back-to-back games for the second time this season.
Penn State maintained a double-digit lead for much of the second half, but failed to pull away in regulation and was up by three with less than a minute remaining. Ultimately, Bell knocked down a 3-pointer to send the game into OT.
Casey Walker scored 24 points for the Hornets (5-6), shooting 8 of 19 from the floor.
Sasa Borovnjak had a season-high 14 points for Penn State.
A layup by Albert Thomas two minutes into overtime gave Delaware State its first lead of the game. Tahj Tate hit a jumper on the ensuing possession to extend the Hornets' lead.
After Newbill put Penn State ahead, freshman Brandon Taylor hit a pair of free throws under pressure to seal the deal.
The Nittany Lions got out to a 21-3 lead to start the game as Delaware State began the game shooting just 1 for 10 from the field.
Walker began to heat up late in the first half, shooting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc before intermission. The Hornets cut Penn State's lead to eight before the break.
After shooting just 8 for 26 in the first half, Delaware State followed up with a 13 for 16 shooting performance in the second half. But Penn State went cold from beyond the arc after the break, shooting 0 for 7.
The Hornets took advantage, diminishing an 11-point Penn State lead with a little more than three minutes remaining in regulation. But Delaware State couldn't find a rhythm in overtime, missing a pair of free throws and shooting 3 for 8 from the floor.
