Penn State sets school scoring record in win over VMI

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Geary Claxton scored 31 points and Penn State set a school scoring record in a 129-111 victory over the Virginia Military Institute on Saturday.

The Nittany Lions set a number of records in the victory. Penn State's point total easily eclipsed the previous mark of 110 points, set against Cornell in 1954. Penn State also set records for assists (36) and rebounds (53), and the teams' total points (250) was also a record. In addition, Claxton scored the 1,000th point of his career.

Jamelle Cornley finished with 25 points and eight rebounds, and Brandon Hassell added a career-high 20 points for Penn State (9-4), which received double-figure scoring from seven players.

Reggie Williams, who ranks third in the nation in scoring, finished with 28 points for VMI (6-9). Chavis Holmes added 27 points in a reserve role as the Keydets shot 19-for-54 from 3-point range.

VMI leads the nation in scoring, averaging more than 101 points, and Penn State got the up-tempo game it expected.

Penn State charged to a 17-4 lead with 15:08 left in the first half. The Keydets rallied and closed within 33-32 with 8:31 left in the first half.

Penn State pushed its lead to 53-38 on a dunk by Claxton with four minutes left in the half.

The Nittany Lions maintained a double-digit lead through most of the second half before the Keydets closed within seven points, at 96-89 with 6:55 left, on a three-point play by Fred Robinson.

Penn State pulled away for a final time with an 18-4 run. Claxton scored his milestone point on a dunk with 2:19 left, becoming the 29th player in Penn State history to score 1,000 points.