STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) –Jamelle Cornley scored 20 points and Penn State withstood a late comeback effort to beat Iowa 74-72 Wednesday night, snapping a 13-game losing streak.
The Hawkeyes had one last chance to tie after Penn State’s David Jackson was whistled for a travel with 22 seconds left.
Iowa (16-13, 8-7 Big Ten) couldn’t get the ball to leading scorer Adam Haluska, and Mike Henderson lost the ball in the backcourt briefly as the game clock wound down before he missed a desperation 3.
Penn State (11-17, 2-13) players hugged each other after winning their regular-season home finale.
Cornley, who played Wednesday after injuring his hip over the weekend, was fouled hard while corralling a rebound. He hit a foul shot to make it 74-69, but missed his second attempt. Haluska sped down the floor and hit a deep 3 to get Iowa within two with 52 seconds left.
But the Hawkeyes couldn’t get closer after rallying from an 11-point deficit in the first half.
Haluska finished with 30 points, including 22 in the second half, and eight rebounds. Tyler Smith added 14 for the Hawkeyes, who finish the regular season at home on Saturday against Illinois.
Geary Claxton scored 18 points, and Mike Walker added 17 for Penn State.
Joonas Suotamo contributed with four points and hustle off the bench in the second half. He hit two foul shots, after Iowa’s Seth Gorney missed two free throws, to give Penn State a 73-69 lead with 1:54 left.