February 6, 1999

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Evan Eschmeyer scored a game-high 28 points, helping Northwestern hold off a late Penn State rally and defeat the Nittany Lions 71-67 Saturday.

Northwestern (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten) won for the fifth time in six games, while Penn State (10-11, 2-9) suffered its fourth consecutive loss. In its last three games, Penn State has lost by a combined total of nine points.

The Wildcats led 59-53 with 4:15 remaining before Dan Earl ignited a 10-3 Penn State run, giving the Lions a 63-62 lead at the 2:21 mark. Eschmeyer and Steve Lepore took control from there, scoring seven points down the stretch. Lepore, who led the team with 18 points, hit three free-throws in the last 14 seconds to ice the win for Northwestern.

Earl and Joe Crispin each missed a 3-point shot in the last 25 seconds; either shot could have tied the game at 70 points. Lepore scored one of his free-throws after those shots to give Northwestern its final point.

Earl's 26 points tied a career high and paced Penn State. He scored 20 of the Lions' final 26 points. Gyasi Cline-Heard was Penn State's second scorer with 13 points.

The win was Northwestern's first ever in the Bryce Jordan Center.