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STATE COLLEGE, PA – Geary Claxton scored 21 points and Talor Battle netted nine of his 14 points in overtime as Penn State defeated Seton Hall, 89-86, Saturday evening in State College, Pa.

Seton Hall jumped out to a quick 20-13 lead with 13:39 left in first half as they sank their first eight shots including four three-pointers, but Penn State stayed with the Pirates shooting 48% from the floor in half.  Danny Morrissey finished the half 3-of-4 from behind the three-point arc and assisted in a 7-0 run by the Nittany Lions that cut the Pirate lead to three, 25-22, with 9:06 to go in the half. 

Seton Hall took over during the next three minutes to pull ahead, 37-26, with help from Eugene Harvey (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who hit three three-pointers in the game.  Harvey only had two made three-pointers on the season entering the contest.  Seton Hall, shooting 61% from the floor in the half, took a 52-42 lead into the locker room.

During the second half, the Pirates found themselves in foul and injury trouble, with Brian Laing (Bronx, N.Y.) receiving his fourth foul at the 11:58 mark, and Harvey being called for his fourth at 6:58.  Paul Gause (Pittsgrove, N.J.) pulled his left groin with approximately 11:30 remaining in regulation and left the game.  He came back about four minutes later, but left again shortly thereafter, and did not return.

Penn State chipped away thoughout the second half and tied the game at 70 with 4:53 to play.  With 2:17 left, Seton Hall went ahead 75-70, but Penn State’s Jamelle Cornley sank a layup and Battle hit a three-point basket with 1:09 left on the clock to send the game to overtime.

For the game Jeremy Hazell (Bronx, N.Y.) scored 21 points with a career-high 5 three-pointers, and John Garcia (Bayshore, N.Y.) notched his third career double-double with ten points and 12 rebounds, as well as contributing with five blocks.  Laing finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

The Pirates were out-scored 14-11 in the extra frame as Battle took over.

Seton Hall finished the game shooting 44.1% to Penn State’s 47.8%.

The Pirates will take the next two weeks off for final exams and return to action Saturday, December 22 against James Madison at Prudential Center.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.