Jeff Brooks scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures as Penn State kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a 66-52 victory over host Northwestern on Thursday night.

Talor Battle added 13, David Jackson 12 and Tim Frazier 10 for the Nittany Lions (15-12), who evened their Big Ten mark at 8-8 and have the weekend off before playing host to third-ranked Ohio State on Tuesday.

Penn State preserved the win by going 10 for 12 at the foul line – including Frazier's 6 for 6 – after waiting until 4:19 remained before attempting its first free throw.

Michael Thompson netted a game-high 22 and John Shurna chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats (16-11, 6-10), who have lost 10 of 11 to the Nittany Lions.

Penn State had torched Northwestern, 65-41, just 11 days before, and it looked like another blowout was in store Thursday as all five starters scored while the Lions raced out to an 18-2 lead on 8-for-9 shooting.

But Penn State cooled to just 4 for 12 the rest of the way, and Northwestern forced 10 turnovers as it pulled to within 26-23 at halftime.