In a game that would have marked the end of the careers of Penn State's four seniors, two freshmen guards rose to the occasion, assuring the Lions of at least one more game in what has already been a landmark season.

For the first time since 1965, the Lions reached the 20-win mark in a season, downing Murray State, 89-73, in an opening-round National Invitation Tournament contest last night at Rec Hall. It was Penn State's first postseason win in 34 years.

The Lions (20-11) struggled in the first half, hitting just 33 percent from the field and facing a 33-32 deficit at the half. Seniors Bruce Blake and Tom Hovasse led the Lions at intermission with nine and six points, respectively.

And if past statistics held true, the Lions were in for a long evening. In games which they have led at the half, the Racers were an impressive 18-1.

But when the second half opened, freshmen Monroe Brown and Freddie Barnes gave the team the lift it needed. Just 15 seconds into the half, Brown put the Lions on top to stay, 34-33, with a tip in. On the Lions' next possession, Brown, a conference all-freshmen team selection, dished down low to Blake, who converted for another bucket.

Point guard Barnes crashed the boards for another follow-up basket, and the Lions were cruising, 39-33.

Of the Lions first 15 points of the second half, the duo scored 10 of them and assisted on two more. For the game, the pair combined for 10 assists, four steals, two blocks, nine rebounds and just one turnover in 56 minutes. They hit 50 percent of their shots, as Barnes scored 12 points and Brown added 10.

"Freddie Barnes played a heck of a game," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "He had a couple of great stick-backs."

"I wasn't hitting (but) Monnie Brown was starting the break, hitting layups and stuff," Hovasse said.

After last Thursday's heartbreaking loss at Rutgers, in which Brown played an unspectacular 14 minutes, last night's game was a complete turnaround.

"I feel pretty good," Brown said, "except for the layups I missed. Anything to get the team fired up, I'm willing to do."

But it's not as if the other players didn't contribute.

Blake kept the Lions in the first half and finished with a team-high 20 points. Not bad for a guy who was conspicuously absent from the all-conference first-, second- and third-teams.

"Bruce Blake did a great job," Parkhill said. "I wouldn't doubt if (the lack of postseason honors) might have been a little motivation for him."

As for Blake himself, who admitted disappointment at the exclusion, "That had a little incentive," he said.

Blake also faced the unenviable task of guarding Murray State's Jeff Martin, a 6' 6" forward who hits 3-pointers with the accuracy most players convert layups. Hitting better than 50 percent from the field for the season, Martin canned 9 of 22 shots for 27 points, his season average.

"He carries a lot of luggage with him wherever he plays," Racers' Coach Steve Newton said. "He's been a very consistent scorer for us."

Hovasse, Penn State's most consistent scorer this season, netted a quiet 17 points on 5 of 16 shooting. In fact, he had just nine points until the 7:18 mark, when the Lions were comfortably ahead, 65-53.

"My shot wasn't falling," the 6' 8" senior said. "But our game plan was to pound it inside, so my off-night from the outside wasn't as big a problem as it could have been."

And pound away inside the Lions did. Especially in the second half.

Though the Racers boast 6' 8", 270-pound freshman Popeye Jones (who gives new meaning to the phrase "crashing the boards,") and a physical frontcourt, the difference in the game was the Lions' ability to get the ball to the likes of Blake, James Barnes (12 points) and Ed Fogell (seven).

"Our foul trouble and Penn State's ability to get the basketball in the paint and score was a key," Newton said. "That counts for the 57 points we gave up in the second half."

Although the game was Penn State's first postseason appearance since 1980 and the first time an NIT game was played at Rec Hall, a disappointing 4,771 fans paid the $6 student and $10 adult ticket prices.

"I thought we were going to have a little more support," Brown said.

In spite of its size, the crowd was a noisy one. And Parkhill took the microphone after the game to show his appreciation.

"I wanted to thank them for the atmosphere they created," the six-year coach said. "They were just tremendous. They really gave our guys a boost."

Second-round pairings for the NIT will be announced tomorrow, after all the first-round games have been played. The Lions will return to action Monday or Tuesday against an opponent and at a site to be determined.