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College basketball roundup:
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Xavier Johnson scored seven of his 27 points in the waning minutes as Pittsburgh held off Drexel for an 83-74 victory on Saturday, avoiding a second-straight upset to a non-Power Five school.
Pitt (1-1) dropped its season opener to Saint Francis (Pa.), but led from the start against Drexel (0-1), and by as many as 16 points before the Dragons rallied.
The Dragons cut the gap to five when T.J. Bickerstaff dunked after a Matey Juric steal with 7:33 remaining. Johnson made a 3-pointer a few seconds later and, while Drexel came within seven points three times in the closing minutes, Pitt had an answer each time.
Au’Diese Toney scored 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting for the Panthers and Justin Champagnie added 19 with seven rebounds. Johnson dished eight assists and Toney six.
Penn State 86, VMI 65: Jamari Wheeler scored a career-high 18 points and Penn State used a 17-3 run early in the second half Saturday to break away for an 86-65 win over VMI in Jim Ferry’s first game as the Nittany Lions coach.
Ferry, a veteran coach who was an assistant the past four years, replaced Pat Chambers on Oct. 21 when Chambers resigned following a school investigation into inappropriate conduct. Chambers was the head coach for nine seasons, compiling a 148-150 record and won the 2018 NIT championship. The Nittany Lions were 21-10 last year and expected to get their first NCAA berth since 2011.
Penn State was up 37-35 at halftime and trailed 45-44 with 15:26 to play following Kamdyn Curfman 3-pointer. The Nittany Lions reeled off nine points before another Curfman 3, then scored eight more. Izaiah Brockington had six of his 15 points points in the surge.
Three players added 12 points for Penn State, which shot 51% in the second half and hit seven 3-pointers.
Wheeler had four 3-pointers and five steals, which moved him past Shep Garner for 10th in career steals with 152.
Greg Parham led the Keydets (1-1) with 21 points and Curfman had 17, hitting five 3s.
VMI coach Dan Earl was a star guard and assistant coach at Penn State.