UNIVERSITY PARK — Jeff Brooks stole the show from Talor Battle.
In the post-game interview, that is.
Penn State’s junior forward, after turning in a solid performance Friday in the Nittany Lions’ 70-55 win over Penn, provided some comic relief and some terrific quotes at the microphone. Battle, the team’s most interviewed player, simply sat next to him and laughed.
On the court, however, as it will be for much of the season, it was Battle’s show, and the rest of the Nittany Lions 1-0 were supporting players. The 5-foot-11 guard scored 27 points, added 10 rebounds and four assists and came up with big buckets every time it seemed the Quakers 0-1 were about to make things interesting.
“When things get tight he wants the ball,” Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. “And he usually does good things with it.”Battle scored six of Penn State’s first eight points, giving the Nittany Lions a one-point lead over Tyler Bernardini, who scored the first seven points for Penn. With the Nittany Lions up just four as the nine-minute mark of the first half neared, Battle buried a 3-pointer off a pass from Brooks. When the Quakers took a 25-24 lead on a layup by Mike Howlett nearly three minutes later, Battle responded again, coaxing in a leaner off the glass as Penn coach Glen Miller helplessly stomped his feet on the sideline.
Read it all: Battle powers Penn State in opener | Penn State News | Penn State Sports – Centre Daily Times.