Iowa survives Penn State in overtime

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Aaron White doesn't have to validate his Iowa career for anyone. His statistics are enough to put him in the conversation for greatness.

But if the forward wanted a statement play to lead off his Hawkeye resume, he provided it Saturday night.

Iowa (19-10, 10-6 Big Ten) led Penn State by one point with 30.8 seconds remaining in overtime. Nittany Lions guard D.J. Newbill tried to inbound a pass to Geno Thorpe following a free throw from Iowa's Mike Gesell. White intercepted Newbill's misfire and was fouled. That produced the first two of six free throws in the final 29.2 seconds and helped Iowa beat Penn State 81-77 at Bryce Jordan Center.

'I kind of baited him into it, to be honest,” said White, who scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 43 minutes. 'Mike made the free throw and I acted like I was running back and I didn't have any idea what was going on. But I turned around and stole it. I've done that a lot in my career, but I think time and score and situation, he probably wasn't thinking. Whereas I was just trying to make a play for our team.”

'Head's up play. That was all him,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said afterward. 'I wish I could take some credit. That's all him.”

The game featured eight lead changes and seven ties. Iowa trailed 23-11 midway through the first half when Penn State scored on nine consecutive possessions and nailed its first four 3-point attempts. But the Hawkeyes rallied the rest of the half and took a 31-29 halftime lead when Josh Oglesby (12 points) popped two 3-pointers wrapped around a Jarrod Uthoff 3-pointer.

The second half was full of runs. Penn State (15-14, 3-13) hit four 3-pointers in the first 2:57 of the half to lead 43-37. Iowa returned fire and twice led by seven inside of nine minutes remaining. But Penn State rallied with a 10-3 run to lead 66-64. Iowa retook the lead on a pair of Gabe Olaseni free throws and a lob pass from Oglesby to White. Newbill, who entered the game leading the Big Ten in scoring and finished with 19 points, sank two free throws with 17.3 seconds left that ultimately sent the game into overtime.

Uthoff buried a 3-pointer on Iowa's first overtime possession, and Gesell drilled another at the of the shot clock to push Iowa ahead by six. Then the Nittany Lions roared back, tying the game at 74-74 with 45 seconds left. Gesell hit one of two free throws to give Iowa a one-point lead, then White garnered his steal. White was fouled and sank all six free-throw attempts to seal the victory.

Iowa now has secured its first winning league record since 2007 and its first 10-plus Big Ten wins since 2006. At 5-3, Iowa has its first winning record in Big Ten road games since 1986-87 (7-2).

'I think it's a testament to how mentally tough we are and just battled through adversity,” said Uthoff, who scored 11 points and added eight rebounds. 'You get down on the road to a Penn State team that's a really good team and that they battle every game. You have to win it from them. I think it shows a lot from our team.

'I don't know if we would have won this game at the beginning of the season, get down 12 on the road. We battled back.”

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com

EARLY VERSION

Aaron White hit six consecutive free throws in overtime en route to 21 points and an 81-77 overtime victory over Penn State tonight.

With Iowa up by two points, forward Aaron White hit two free throws with 10.8 seconds left to extend the Hawkeyes' lead to four points. After Penn State freshman Shep Garner was fouled with 4.1 seconds left and sank two free throws, White hit two more with 3.4 seconds left in overtime to seal the victory.

The win gives Iowa its fourth straight Big Ten victory, a first for the program in nine years.

Iowa (19-10. 10-6 Big Ten) built a 61-54 lead with 7:39 left, and Penn State responded with a 7-0 run. Josh Oglesby hit a 3-pointer to put Iowa ahead 64-61, then the Nittany Lions scored the next five points to lead 66-64.

Iowa center Gabe Olaseni knotted the score two possessions later with a pair of free throws. Iowa took a 68-66 lead when Oglesby tossed a lob pass to Aaron White for a dunk.

Penn State (15-14, 3-13) battled with three offensive rebounds on its next possession but D.J. Newbill's final miss was rebounded by White. Iowa's Jarrod Uthoff missed a 3-pointer, and Penn State took over with 35 seconds left. Newbill drove the lane with 17.3 seconds left and was fouled. He hit both free throws to tie the game at 68-68.

Iowa had one last chance in regulation. Uthoff shot a 3-pointer from the right wing but missed. Olaseni's tip didn't go in to send the game into overtime.

Uthoff found his stroke to open overtime with a 3-pointer, then with the shot clock down, point guard Mike Gesell hit from the right wing to put Iowa up six. Penn State's Geno Thorpe countered with a jumper to bring the Nittany Lions within 74-70.

Newbill then scored twice on drives to tie the game. He fouled Gesell on his way to the basket with 30.8 seconds. Gesell missed his first free throw, then made his second. On the ensuing inbound pass, White stole the ball and was fouled. He made both free throws to put Iowa up 77-74.

With 12.3 seconds left, Olaseni fouled Penn State's Jordan Dickerson at the rim. Dickerson missed the first, then made the second to cut Iowa's lead to 77-75.

White was immediately fouled, and made both free throws to push Iowa up 79-75. Garner was fouled with 3.6 seconds left and made both free throws. White was fouled with 3.4 seconds left and hit both to seal the victory.

Iowa led 6-3 early, then Penn State attacked. The Nittany Lions scored on their next nine possessions to lead 23-11. Penn State drilled four 3-pointers in a five-possession span, including three by freshman point guard Shep Garner.

Gradually, Iowa started to come back. White passed to Mike Gesell for a layup and White followed with a tip-in off an Anthony Clemmons miss. The Hawkeyes fought their deficit to three points before Penn State scored twice on drives from Newbill and Jordan Dickerson to boost their lead to 29-22.

The Hawkeyes fumbled the ball inside several times at the rim before Oglesby connected on a 3-pointer with 3:08 left in the first half. After a Penn State turnover, Uthoff buried another 3-pointer to cut Penn State's lead to 29-28.

Olaseni came up with a steal on the Nittany Lions' next possession, and Oglesby hit another 3-pointer to give Iowa a 31-29 lead, which lasted until halftime.

It was a baffling first half for the Nittany Lions, who nailed their first four 3-pointers but missed their last seven. Penn State ended the half making just three of its final 14 shots.

But the Nittany Lions came out firing to start the second half. Newbill, the Big Ten's leading scorer, hit a 3-pointer to open and was followed by a Garner 3-pointer. Newbill hit another 3-pointer three possessions later and was followed by a Geno Thorpe 3-pointer to move Penn State to a 43-37 lead.

Iowa bounced back, scoring on seven of its next eight possessions. Iowa retook the lead on a pair of free throws by Olaseni, then solidified it with another Oglesby 3-pointer. After Penn State inched within 52-51, the Hawkeyes blazed to a 6-0 run. Olaseni hit two free throws, then followed with a fast-break dunk. Gesell finished the run with a layup to put Iowa up 58-51.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com