Nittany Lions edge Penn; Duquesne 4-0

November 26, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Penn State improved to 5-0, thanks to 50 percent shooting from 3-point range.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Stanley Pringle had career highs of 25 point and seven assists as Penn State rolled up an early lead and held off Penn 85-73 on Tuesday night.

Taylor Battle scored 24 points and Jamelle Cornley 16 for Penn State (5-0), which shot 9-for-18 from 3-point range.

Jack Eggleston had 17 points and Harrison Gaines 16 for the Quakers (1-3).

The Nittany Lions led by as many as 28 points in the first half and held a 63-39 lead with 11:54 to play. Penn then went on a 22-8 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Tyler Bernardini, and closed within 71-61 with 3:27 left.

But Battle hit three free throws and David Jackson added a layup to halt Penn’s threat.

Pringle hit two 3-pointers and Battle added another as the Nittany Lions jumped out to a 22-4 advantage. Penn State’s lead reached 29-8 with 7:55 left in the first half. Another 3-pointer by Battle made it 49-24 at halftime.

Penn State shot 19-for-37 in the first half, including 7-for-10 from 3-point range.

Penn was 10 for 29 in the half, but made only one of 10 shots from long distance.

Duquesne 79, S.C.-Upstate 69

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Damian Saunders scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Duquesne past South Carolina-Upstate.

The Dukes are off to a 4-0 start for the second consecutive year.

Last year, Duquesne opened 6-0 - its best start in 28 years - en route to posting the school’s first winning record in 14 years at 17-13.

Leading 44-40 at halftime, the Dukes scored the first five points of the second half. The Spartans (0-4), trying for their first win of the season, scored the next 11 points to cut the lead to 51-49, but could get no closer.

Jason Duty chipped in 17 points for Duquesne and Aaron Jackson was a triple threat with 15 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

Bobby Davis led the Spartans with 24 points.