BTN.com staff, November 23, 2012

Penn State took home a victory, 60-57 over Bucknell on Friday, despite being without the services of Tim Frazier, who is averaging 16.3 points per game this season. Bucknell (5-1) struggled shooting the ball in the game.

The Bison made 80 percent of their free throws (20-of-25) and they shot 39 percent (16-of-41) from the field. Even in defeat, Bryson Johnson came through for Bucknell with 18 points.

Penn State (3-2) nearly blew the seven-point lead that Jermaine Marshall gave them on a field goal with 3:30 remaining. Marshall sparked the Nittany Lions, as he had 17 points for Penn State in the game. Brandon Taylor was 6-of-11 from the floor and chipped in 16 points for the Nittany Lions. Penn State had trouble finding its touch, shooting just 39 percent (22-of-57) from the field. The Nittany Lions also got a solid contribution from D.J. Newbill, who scored 10.

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The Bison also got double-digit performances from Mike Muscala, who scored 10 and Cameron Ayers, who scored 14. With the victory, Penn State snapped Bucknell's five-game winning streak.

HALFTIME: Bucknell leads 22-16 at halftime after locking down Penn State's offense, holding the Nittany Lions to 17 percent shooting and just five field goals. The Bison were able to draw fouls and get to the line with regularity. Through 20 minutes of play, Bucknell is 10-for-13 from the free throw line.

The Bison led by as many as eight points in the first half and never trailed.

Bryson Johnson and Mike Muscala have shouldered the offensive burden for Bucknell, scoring 17 of the team's 22 total points. Johnson has scored 10 and Muscala has added seven.

Penn State's Brandon Taylor had a big first half, with eight points.

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