Defense and free throw shooting -- two words that the men's basketball team thrived on in the past, but this season have been non-existent.

Last night, however, they showed themselves again in a second half that brought back memories of seasons past.

Ironically the effort came against a foe from the past, former Atlantic-10 rival Duquesne. The Lions used defense and free throws to defeat the Dukes, 69-59, at Rec Hall.

"The offense wasn't as good as it's been," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "But fortunately our defense in the second half was solid enough to rely on."

The defense Penn State played in the final eight minutes more than made up for its own 42.9 percent shooting. Duquesne held a 57-54 lead with 8:09 left in the game, it would score a total of two points the remainder of the game.

After allowing 10 second-chance points in the first half, the Lions hit the defensive boards and didn't allow any second-chance points in the final 20 minutes.

"We felt if they continued to score out of transition and get offensive rebounds that we had no chance to win," Parkhill said. "Fortunately we played much tougher defense in the second half and we didn't give them second shots."

Duquesne Coach John Carroll said, "Penn State physically outplayed us."

The physical game also benefited Penn State on the offensive end. The Lions were able to work the ball inside, get fouled and get sent to the free-throw line. The way the team has shot from the line over the past week, Parkhill probably wished he had the option to take the ball out-of-bounds.

And in the first half Penn State continued its ineptness, hitting just 12-of-18. But in the second half, in a tight game no less, the free-throw shooters finally found some touch.

DeRon Hayes' free throw with 6:55 left in the game completed a 3-point play and gave the team a 59-57 lead. Center Dave Degitz went 4-of-4 from the charity stripe in the final four minutes to cushion the lead.

"The foul-line situation, I think we were just in a slump," said Hayes, who went 5-of-7 from the line. "We're just concentrating a little bit more. We're use to it now because we've been in a lot of pressure situations."

The team shot an incredible 85.7 percent from the line in the second half. Forward Matt Gaudio led the team with a 9-of-11 effort.

"That was the big difference," Parkhill said. "What was impressive to me for example was Dave (Degitz). He was struggling all game, but he knocked down some really big ones."

The team's free-throw shooting was its best performance since the Jan. 16 game at Marshall. But with good fortune coming from the line last night, the players may be getting suspicious so as not to jinx their luck.

"I don't want to put a whammy on us and say we're going to shoot perfect from the foul line," Hayes said. "But I think we just concentrate more at the end of games."