Melih Tunca

PHILADELPHIA — Freshman Melih Tunca scored a career-best 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, reserve Freddie Dilione V added 16 and Penn State beat La Salle, 83-69, on Saturday.

Kayden Mingo scored 14 points and reserve Ivan Juric had 11 for the Nittany Lions (4-0), whose bench scored 40 points.

The Nittany Lions shot 58% (33 of 57) and made half of their 20 3-point shots.

Jerome Brewer Jr. and Ashton Walker each scored 13 points and Eric Acker and reserve Jaeden Marshall each had 11 for the Explorers (2-2).

Marshall’s 3-pointer 6¢ minutes in gave La Salle a 12-9 lead before Penn State countered with a 20-0 outburst that lasted 5¢ minutes. The Nittany Lions made all seven of their shot attempts during the run, shot 2 for 3 from the foul line and Dominic Stewart converted a three-point play and made a 3 during the run.

The Nittany Lions stayed ahead by double digits for the entire second half.

LA SALLE (2-2): Brewer 6-11 0-0 13, J.Harris 2-4 2-2 6, Acker 4-9 1-2 11, Strand 2-5 0-0 5, Walker 5-7 2-3 13, Marshall 4-7 1-2 11, Archer 1-1 6-6 8, Dockery 0-3 0-0 0, Daniel 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 25-50 12-15 69.

PENN STATE (4-0): Ciani 0-0 0-0 0, Reed 2-7 2-2 7, Mingo 6-12 1-2 14, Rice 0-1 2-2 2, Tunca 8-9 0-0 20, Jurić 5-6 1-4 11, Dilione 7-13 0-0 16, Stewart 3-7 1-1 9, Mirtič 2-2 0-0 4, Blackwood 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-57 7-11 83.

Halftime–Penn State 42-29. 3-Point Goals–La Salle 7-16 (Acker 2-3, Marshall 2-5, Strand 1-2, Walker 1-2, Brewer 1-4), Penn State 10-20 (Tunca 4-4, Dilione 2-4, Stewart 2-4, Reed 1-2, Mingo 1-5, Rice 0-1). Rebounds–La Salle 26 (Brewer 7), Penn State 22 (Jurić 6). Assists–La Salle 16 (Walker 6), Penn State 21 (Mingo 7). Total Fouls–La Salle 14, Penn State 16.