PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- For 20 minutes, the men's basketball team completely frustrated Rutgers' star forward Keith Hughes with its high pressured, quick switching defense.

Hughes came into the game averaging 20.9 points per game but shot a miserable three of 10 from the field scoring just nine points in the first stanza. That enabled the Lions, who shot an equally unimpressive 35.5 percent from the floor, to keep the game close.

RU led 39-37 at the intermission.

But Hughes broke loose for 15 second-half points to ignite the Scarlet Knights to a second-half blowout and a 92-70 Atlantic 10 victory before 8,772 raucus fans at the Lewis Brown Athletic Center.

It was the Lions worst loss in more than two years.

"The first half we were just playing tough man-to-man defense," Penn State forward James Barnes said. "We were getting a lot of help. In the second half we weren't as quick. And (Hughes) got easy baskets."

Coach Bruce Parkhill agreed.

"I thought we were in decent shape at the half," he said. "We weren't shooting the ball real well and we were still in the game. If we (had) played any kind of defense in the second half it could have been close. But they just blew us out in the second half."

The win gives Rutgers (19-8,14-4) its first regular season conference championship. The loss dropped the Lions (17-10, 10-8) into a five-way tie for third place. Seedings for the A-10 tournament will be announced tonight.

Hughes started the second half with a layup off a pretty feed from guard Mike Jones to push the lead to four, 41-37. After a Penn State miss, RU center Brent Dabbs, who had 22 points himself, hit another layup to push the lead to six -- the largest lead by either team at that point.

The Lions kept the game close early in the second half. Center Dave Degitz hit two free throws and a layup and forward James Barnes -- who led the Lions with 16 points -- made another layup. But Rutgers was eventually too much. The Knights pushed the lead to nine when Hughes hit two free throws with 12:19 left. Penn State would get no closer the rest of the way.

The Knights opened up the floor and slammed home seven dunks in the last seven minutes. Hughes -- who will probably be voted A-10 Player of the Year at the tournament this weekend -- had two of them. The Knights were mobbed at halfcourt after the game by Rutgers students. The public address announcer informed the fans about the United States ceasefire to a standing ovation.

"Good things that could have happened tonight happened," Rutgers coach Bob Wenzel said. "We won the A-10 championship ... in the second half we played great. Guys really came up with some big plays."

"Rutgers deserves to win the A-10 championship," Parkhill said -- "They are a fabulous team. They really took it to us in the second half. They deserve to win.

The Lions were whistled for 29 personal fouls in the tightly-called contest. Degitz, Monroe Brown and James Barnes all fouled out.

Now the Lions must look forward to the A-10 tournament. When asked if this loss would hurt the Lions' chances, forward DeRon Hayes said: "I think this will help us in the tournament. We've been knocked down, now we have to get back up."