Penn State Clips Clemson, 85-75

Dec. 1, 1999

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Joe Crispin scored a team-high 24 points and hit a game-clinching bucket from just beyond the free-throw line as Penn State beat Clemson 85-75 Wednesday night.

Crispin, who shot 7-for-14 from the floor, answered a late six-point Clemson run with 1:32 remaining in the game to put Penn State (4-0) ahead for good. Crispin was fouled on the shot, and sank the free throw that stopped the Tigers’ (2-4) comeback run.

Titus Ivory had 22 points and Jarrett Stephens had 19 for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State, playing Bucknell for the first time as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, relied on good outside shooting (12-for-29 from beyond the arc) and racked up a dozen 3-pointers, one short of a team record set in 1996 against Iowa.

Will Solomon led all scorers with a career-high 37 points on 13-for-27 shooting for Clemson, but even his output couldn’t get Clemson closer than four points in the second half. Will Solomon had 18 points for the visitors.

In the first half, Crispin and Ivory hit three 3-pointers apiece to lead the Nittany Lions, who shot 8-for-16 (.500) from long range, to a 34-27 lead at the midway mark.