Sports

Newbill scores 22 points and Penn State takes 5th place with 63-61 win over Southern Cal

Associated Press
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Penn State's Donovon Jack, right, goes up to shoot against Southern California's Darion Clark, left, in the first half at the Charleston Classic NCAA college basketball tournament in Charleston, S.C., Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

Southern California's Strahinja Gavrilovic, left, goes up to shoot against the defense of Penn State's Jordan Dickerson in the first half at the Charleston Classic NCAA college basketball tournament in Charleston, S.C., Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

D.J. Newbill scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and Penn State held off Southern Cal to take fifth place at the Charleston Classic with a 63-61 victory Sunday.

The Nittany Lions led by 13 points in the opening half, yet trailed 49-43 with under 10 minutes remaining. That's when Newbill sparked Penn State, scoring 10 of his team's next 13 points, including a 3-pointer that put the Nittany Lions ahead for good 56-54.

Southern Cal (2-3) was still within 62-60 on Jordan McLaughlin's foul shot with 1.3 seconds left. But Shep Garner made a foul shot with 0.7 secconds left to provide the final point.

It was the third nail-biting finish for the Nittany Lions in as many tournament games after a double-overtime loss, 106-97 loss to Charlotte on Thursday and a 72-71 buzzer-beating win over Cornell last Friday.

Katin Reinhardt led Southern Cal with 14 points.