The men's basketball team has played up to its potential at times this season. But more often than not they've played well below it.

If Saturday afternoon's 84-68 pasting of St. Joseph's in Rec Hall is any indication, the Lions may be ready to make a run down the stretch.

Penn State got career-high 14-point efforts from backups Jon Dietz and Michael Jennings and played tough defense throughout in improving its record to 15-7 (8-5 in the Atlantic 10). The Hawks dropped to 8-14 and 5-9.

"It was really a good win," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "I thought (Dietz and Jennings) did a good job . . . We gave up a little bit too much dribble penetration in the first half but overall I was pleased with our defense."

The win should give the Lions momentum heading into arguably their biggest conference game of the season. Penn State faces A-10 co-leader Temple Wednesday night in Rec Hall. The Owls, 16-6 and 10-3, came back from 16 down in the first half to beat West Virginia 88-78 in overtime last night.

On Saturday, Penn State got off to its typical slow start but Jennings got things going late in the first half.

The Lions were trailing 26-23 before the sophomore guard evened the game with 3-pointer from the left corner at the 4:28 mark. On the next trip down the floor, Jennings was fouled at nearly the same spot by Hawks' forward Marlon Miller. He hit all three free throws to give the Lions a 29-26 lead.

After another St. Joseph's miss, Dietz was fouled by freshman guard Bernard Blunt. Deitz hit 1-of-2 to push the lead to four with 2:40 left. But the Hawks were hurt more by the loss of Blunt who had to leave the game with his third personal foul. He kept them in the game with 16 first-half points.

Jennings -- who led the Lions with 10 points in the first stanza -- then capped the 8-0 run with a rim-bending, two-handed dunk off guard Monroe Brown's steal to put Penn State up 32-26 with 2:07 left.

"I was thinking (about the kind of dunk to make) but I was going too fast," Jennings said. "I said, 'I'm going to kill this one.' "

The dunk ignited the crowd and the Lions extended their lead to 38-30 at the intermission.

St. Joe's never got any closer. The Lions began the second half with a 20-4 run to put the game away. Penn State led by as many 27 points in the second half and the closest St. Joseph's got the rest of the way was 14.

"The ball was not going in the basket," St. Joseph's coach John Griffin said. "We had a few turnovers and they came down and continued to score. We went from zone to man-to-man but we still couldn't stop them."

Dietz did not play in Wednesday's win against St. Bonavenure because of a sprained ankle. He was doubtful against St. Joseph's but practiced Friday and felt well enough to play. Dietz scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half.

"I was real happy to get the chance and I wanted to make the most of it," Dietz said.

The second half did have its fireworks off the court. With 5:02 left, Hawks' bruising forward Matt Guokas was called for a technical foul for saying something to an official. Guokas -- son of the NBA Orlando Magic coach by the same name -- was badgered by the Penn State Blue Band throughout the game. He fouled out a minute later with four points.

Parkhill was also slapped with a 'T' with 2:52 left. It appeared the coach was finished arguing, what he thought was a no-call on Penn State's offensive end, when he was whistled.

"I've deserved some technicals before but that was a bogus technical," Parkhill said. "I thought (the officials) were coasting and our kids were working hard and so were the St. Joe's kids."

Blunt led all scorers with 27 points.

"He is a super player," Parkhill said. "He is incredible for a freshman. I thought (Mike) Boyd of West Virginia was incredible. This kid is in the same class."

Lions' forward James Barnes had his second-consecutive double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Forward DeRon Hayes and Brown also scored in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.