STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — After a cold start, Evan Turner found his shooting touch at just the right time.

The Ohio State star had 25 points and overcame a 1 of 7 shooting effort in the first half by hitting 7 of 10 in the second, and the No. 9 Buckeyes nearly lost a 17-point lead before holding off Penn State 75-67.

David Lighty scored 18, including an open 3 from the left wing that put the Buckeyes (22-7, 12-4 Big Ten) up 49-32 with 13:50 left before Penn State answered with three straight 3s.

David Jackson’s three-point play off a layup with 5:15 left got the Nittany Lions (10-17, 2-13) within 59-57, sending a Jordan Center crowd longing for an unlikely upset into hysterics. Jackson finished with 13 points and six rebounds, while Talor Battle had a team-high 22.

But Turner scored Ohio State’s next eight to help put the game away, hitting an array of athletic leaners and layups, and hitting all nine of his foul shots on the evening.

The Nittany Lions couldn’t handle Ohio State’s balanced offense during the Buckeyes’ 19-4 run to open the second half capped by Lighty’s 3.