Northwestern defeats Penn State, 70-54

Dave Sobolewski scored 18 points and Jared Swopshire added 17 as Northwestern handled cold-shooting Penn State with ease in a 70-54 Big Ten Conference victory Thursday night. The Wildcats (10-6, 1-2) used a 25-4 run over an 11-minute span to lead by as many as 17 points, 33-16, in the first half. Penn State didn't score a basket for nearly seven minutes during that span.

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FINAL: Jared Swopshire scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Dave Sobolewski added 18 points and three boards as they teamed up to lead Northwestern to a 70-54 victory  over Penn State on Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park.

Swopshire picked up Northwestern (10-6) with three assists and 5-of-8 shooting from the field. The Wildcats went into the locker room with the momentum and came out of the second half flying as well. Down 12-8 with 11:47 to go in the first half, Northwestern broke out for a 33-8 run to take a 21-point lead with 17:03 in the game.

The Wildcats were hot from long range, hitting 9-of-22 threes for a 41 percent night from beyond the arc. Northwestern went 17-of-26 from the charity stripe as a team (65 percent). The Wildcats also got double-digit efforts from Kale Abrahamson (10 points) and Reggie Hearn (14 points). D.J. Newbill contributed 20 points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out three assists for Penn State (8-7) in the game.

The Nittany Lions shot just 32 percent from the field (18-of-57). Penn State was able to secure 18 offensive boards. Jermaine Marshall finished with 13 points.

HALFTIME: Northwestern clamped down defensively to hold Penn State to 31 percent shooting in the first half and the Wildcats hold a 33-18 lead at the break. Penn State led 12-8 when the Wildcats went on a 13-0 run to take a nine-point lead. The Nittany Lions' Sasa Borovnjak already has six points and four rebounds. Northwestern's Jared Swopshire had a big first half, with nine points and three rebounds.

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