Duren nets 29 as La Salle runs away from Penn State for 82-57 blowout victory

PHILADELPHIA – Tyreek Duren scored a career-high 29 points as La Salle beat Penn State 82-57 Wednesday night for the Explorers' fourth straight victory.

The win moved La Salle to 5-1 this season, its best start since 2005-06, when the Explorers began the year 7-0. It also marked the first time La Salle defeated a Big 10 team since a 62-44 victory over Northwestern on Dec. 10, 2000.

There were six lead changes in the first 4 minutes before the Explorers took control of the game with a 10-0 tear that snapped a 23-23 tie. From there, La Salle never trailed, though Penn State (4-4) did close to within a basket twice — last at 43-41 after a three-point play from D.J. Newbill with 15:33 left.

Duren opened a close game up by scoring 12 straight La Salle points during a 3-minute stretch. He was supported by 14 points each from Ramon Galloway and Sam Mills, while Penn State was led by Jermaine Marshall's team-high 19 points, and Ross Travis and Newbill chipped in with 12 each.

With 10:48 to play and La Salle up 54-43, Duren nailed a 3-point shot, then followed with a three-point play. He sank two free throws after Penn State coach Pat Chambers was hit with a technical foul with 7:56 left in the game. By then, La Salle had opened a 65-46 edge.

Duren was supported by 14 points each from Ramon Galloway and Sam Mills, while Penn State was led by Jermaine Marshall's 19 points, and Ross Travis and Newbill chipped in with 12 each.

La Salle was 16 for 31 from beyond the arc in the game, while Penn State shot 33 percent (9 of 27) from the floor in the second half and made 3 of 12 from 3-point range.

La Salle went into halftime leading 38-34 after holding two 10-point advantages. The Nittany Lions scratched back to a four-point deficit at the half thanks to Sasa Borovnjak, who scored six of Penn State's last eight in the half.

Duren had 15 by halftime, while Newbill, Penn State's leading scorer, was shut out in the first half. Duren denied Newbill the ball, frustrating him into missing his first three shots and making only 5 of 13. Newbill entered the game averaging 14.7 points per game and finished with 12 — all in the second half.

Penn State remained in contention early behind 10 from Travis, who exceeded his season average of 7.1 points a game by scoring eight of the Nittany Lions' first 13 points.