UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to live in-game coverage of the Nittany Lion basketball team.

Take a look through the running blog from Penn State's 80-76 overtime victory over Delaware State on Saturday.


Starting Lineups:
Penn State - G - Marshall, G - Newbill, F - Travis, F - Taylor, F - Borovnjak
Delaware State - G - Tate, G - Thomas, G - Walker, F - Oliver, C - Gray

15:49 1st Half - Penn State 7, Delaware State 2
The Nittany Lions started the game well on the defensive end of the floor, which fueled a 3-for-5 start on offense.  Penn State's effort plays a huge role in its success, and thus far it has been superb.  The Lions have been active on defense since the ball tipped.  Delaware State started just 1-for-6.  Freshman Brandon Taylor scored five of Penn State's first seven points to help the Lions jet out to a 7-2 lead.

11:53 1st Half - Penn State 21, Delaware State 3
The Nittany Lions have put together a complete effort on both ends of the floor during the first 8:07 of action in the Bryce Jordan Center.  In addition to holding Delaware State to just 1-for-10 shooting, the Lions are red-hot on offense.  Five different players have contributed to an 8-for-10 shooting start, led by six points from Jermaine Marshall.

6:32 1st Half - Penn State 23, Delaware State 13

15:31 2nd Half - Penn State 49, Delaware State 35
The Nittany Lions have been aggressive early in the second half.  A hard drive from Marshall resulted in a layup and a16-point lead for Penn State before a basket from Delaware State set the score at 49-35.  After the late rally from the Hornets to end the first half, Penn State needed a strong start out of the locker room, and it got one.  The Lions are still shooting 57 percent from the field for the game.  Penn State has visited the foul line six times already this half, which speaks to how aggressive the Lions have been early.

10:50 2nd Half - Penn State 57, Delaware State 43
Coach Chambers talked this week about the freshmen beginning to see more minutes in the rotation for the Nittany Lions.  Donovan Jack has taken full advantage of that in the second half.  The Reading native accounted for six-straight points for the Nittany Lions.  Jack's three baskets handed the Lions a 55-39, marking its largest lead since mid-way through the first half.  Sasa Borovnjak is quietly having a solid game with 10 points and five rebounds on 3-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line.

7:37 2nd Half - Penn State 59, Delaware State 49
The Nittany Lions have played another strong half of basketball on the offensive end of the floor, but they are letting Delaware State hang around after back-to-back 3-pointers from Walker and Tahj Tate.  Jack's fourth basket of the half put the Lions up 59-43, but the two-straight triples brought the margin back to 10.  Jack received a well-deserved ovation as he ran off the floor.  He has eight points, all which coming in a span of 4:17, and a block this half.

3:05 2nd Half - Penn State 65, Delaware State 55
The Nittany Lions weathered a 4:36 scoring drought before Marshall tallied two free throws to make it a 61-49 game.  Each time the Lions extended their lead to 12, Delaware State answered to keep the margin at 10.  With 3:05 to play, the Hornets will be at the foul line looking to trim the lead down to single digits.  Penn State has played well, but the Lions have let the Hornets hang around in the second half.

FINAL in OT - Penn State 80, Delaware State 76
The final three minutes and overtime had a little bit of everything for the Nittany Lions.  Penn State led by 11 (67-58) with 2:58 to play, but then went scoreless until the final 20 seconds.  During that span, Delaware State chipped away at the lead until a Tyshawn Bell drained a 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play, tying the game at 69-69.  In overtime, the Lions scored first with a free throw from Borovnjak, but then missed their next three attempts at the charity stripe.  Delaware State scored to make it 71-70, marking their first lead of the game at the 3:06 mark in overtime.  A basket from Tate made it 73-70 before Newbill answered with a hard dribble drive to the basket.  Borovnjak tied the game with a free throw, but Bell answered with a huge corner three to make it 76-73, Delaware State.  Nonetheless, Marshall came right back with a tying 3-pointer on the left wing.  The Hornets had two free throw attempts rim out before Newbill glided in for a layup to put the Lions on top 78-76.  Two Brandon Taylor free throws and a pair of stops on the defensive end of the floor set the final at 80-76.

Newbill led the way with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.  Marshall added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.  Borovnjak was the third Lion in double figures, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds.  The Lions shot 49 percent from the field for the game, marking the second-straight game at 49 percent or better from the field.  The Lions will gladly accept their third-straight victory, but they need to do a better job closing out the game.  Penn State led throughout the contest before yielding the late run.  Penn State will learn from Saturday's experience, but any win is great for this team's confidence moving forward.

Coach Chambers said the Nittany Lions were fortunate to find a way to win against a talented Delaware State team, but he was pleased with the way Penn State battled throughout the contest.  He said that making free throws is the biggest thing he will take away from Saturday's win, but Chambers is proud of the team for finding a way to win.

The Lions will break for finals week before returning to action next Sunday at 11 a.m. against New Hampshire.