Penn State dumps Duquesne 68-59

The score doesn’t always supply proper justice.

With 9:47 on the clock, Duquesne's Isaiah Watkins converted a layup to cap a 10-2 Dukes' run, cutting Penn State’s lead to just five points.

But the Dukes managed just 17 points from that point on, as PSU (9-3) used an unsung hero in the backcourt, and another in the paint, enroute to a 68-59 victory at Consol Energy Center Wednesday night.

Allen Roberts led the Nittany Lions with 15 points off the bench, going 5 of 11 from the field with three 3-pointers — all in the 2nd half.  Roberts was complimented by one of the best back court tandems in the country with D.J. Newbill and Tim Frazier, who combined for 24 points, while Frazier dished a season-best 13 assists.

Penn State went 9 of 23 from beyond-the-arc, while the Dukes went a miserable 4 of 23 (17.4%).

Roberts contributed to a Penn State 20-6 run from the 9-minute mark to the 2:17 mark in the 2nd half, swelling the Nittany Lions lead to a game-best 19.

Forwards Donovon Jack and Ross Travis bullied the Duquesne frontcourt, corralling a combined 25 rebounds, despite the Dukes outrebounding PSU 47-45.

Transfer senior Ovie Soko did his best to keep the Dukes competitive, posting a game-best 19 points, adding nine rebounds to his count. Forwards Jeremiah Jones and Dominique McKoy, who each had 12 points, were the only other Dukes to finish in double-figures.

The starting backcourt and 6th man Jerry Jones finished a combined 4 of 27 from the field. Duquesne, as a team shot just 17 of 63 (27%) despite having just seven turnovers.