University Park, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - D.J. Newbill poured in 29 points as the Penn State Nittany Lions overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Akron Zips, 78-72, in non-conference action at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Newbill converted 12-of-15 attempts at the charity stripe and also dealt out five assists for PSU (5-1). Brandon Taylor netted 14 points, Geno Thorpe scored 10 points and Ross Travis grabbed nine boards for the Nittany Lions.

Noah Robotham paced the Zips (3-2) with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the floor. Deji Ibitayo provided a spark off the bench for the visitors with 17 points, while Pat Forsythe nearly recorded a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Newbill scored 14 points on 5-of-8 efficiency from the field in the opening stanza, but the rest of the Nittany Lions struggled, connecting on just 25.9 percent of their field goal tries. Akron took a 45-32 lead into the intermission after it made good on 58.6 percent of its shots from the floor, including a 5-of-12 clip from 3-point range.

PSU turned around after the break as it sank 63.6 percent of its field goal tries and converted 15-of-21 shots at the charity stripe. The Zips were limited to 21.2 percent efficiency from the floor over the final 20 minutes of action.

The Nittany Lions finished with a 39-33 edge in total rebounds.