Lions push past St. Johns in OT, 89-82
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (AP) - Tim Frazier scored six of his game-high 29 points in overtime to lead Penn State to an 89-82 win over St. John's in the second game of the Barclays Center Classic Friday night.
D.J. Newbill had 25 points, and Ross Travis and Brandon Taylor each had 10 points for Penn State, which improved to 6-1. The Nittany Lions will play Mississippi in the championship game of the two-day tournament Saturday afternoon.
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D'Angelo Harrison led St. John's with 20 points. Max Hooper added 15 points and Phil Greene IV chipped in with 14.
St. John's fell to 4-2. The Red Storm will meet Georgia Tech in the consolation game.
Penn State went into halftime with a 42-35 lead as they made exactly 50 percent of their shots from the field (14-for-18) and from 3-point range (7-for-14) in the opening 20 minutes.
The Nittany Lions led by as much as 15 (62-47) following Allen Roberts' made 3-pointer with 10:52 left. However, the Johnnies fought back and tied the game at 67-67, after Greene's wing jumper with 3:12 left.
From that point, the teams exchanged momentum surges.
Trailing 71-67 with 1:27 left, Harrison was fouled while drilling a 3-pointer. He made the ensuing free throw, and his floater on St. John's next possession gave the Red Storm their first lead since Chris Obekpa's game-opening layup.
The lead lasted for all of 40 seconds.
Frazier made three free throws after being fouled behind the three point line to give Penn State a 75-74 lead. Harrison drew St. John's even with 2.5 seconds left in regulation when he made one-of-two free throws.
Friday night's matchup was the first between the Big 10 and Big East schools since Dec. 15, 1911. St. John's won that game, 25-17.