D.J. Newbill scores 23 points, Penn State holds off No. 22 Ohio State 65-63 for season sweep

2/27/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ohio State's Sam Thompson takes possession of a rebound during the first half Thursay in State College, Pa.
Ohio State's Sam Thompson takes possession of a rebound during the first half Thursay in State College, Pa.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — D.J. Newbill scored 23 points, Tim Frazier added 16 and Penn State held off a late rally by No. 22 Ohio State for a 65-63 victory Thursday on Senior Night.

The Buckeyes (22-7, 9-7 Big Ten) had a chance to win at the end. Coming out of a timeout with 6.8 seconds left, Lenzelle Smith Jr.’s 3-pointer rimmed out. The Nittany Lions (14-14, 5-10) grabbed the rebound and time expired.

Ohio State was led by LaQuinton Ross, who scored 19 points. Aaron Craft, plagued by foul trouble most of the game, added 10.

Penn State swept the season series from Ohio State. The Nittany Lions upset the then-No. 23 Buckeyes 71-70 in overtime on Jan. 29 in Columbus, Ohio.

Nittany Lions forward Donovan Jack made a turnaround jumper, was fouled and hit the free throw to give Penn State a 60-55 lead with 1:59 to go.

Ross and Craft each made a pair of free throws, sandwiched around two by Frazier, to pull the Buckeyes to 62-59 with just more than a minute to go.

Frazier pushed Penn State’s lead to five with 39.4 seconds left with a pair of free throws.

After Ross made two more free throws, Shannon Scott stole the inbounds pass and passed to Trey McDonald for a layup that cut it to 64-63.

Penn State missed two free throws on the ensuing possession, but Smith’s shot caromed off the rim and over the backboard, giving the Nittany Lions the ball back with less than 10 seconds left.

Frazier was fouled and made one of two at the line, setting up Smith’s last-second attempt from 3-point range.

Frazier, a senior point guard, was recognized before the game as part of Senior Night festivities. He is one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, given annually to a student-athlete with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Frazier will leave Penn State as the school’s career leader in assists.