Unsure if his career in a Penn State uniform was over, senior forward Jamelle Cornley was helpless as his team fought to keep its season alive for at least one more game.
But when it looked like there was only 4.8 more seconds to Cornley's playing days, Talor Battle hit a tightly guarded 3-pointer as time expired to send the game to overtime and extend the Nittany Lions' season.
"I like to call myself Mr. Big Shot," Battle said. "It's more of a joke but during the games Coach wants me to have the ball in my hands and make a play."
Battle scored eight more in overtime for a 77-73 win against George Mason Tuesday night in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Nittany Lions host Rhode Island at 7 Thursday night in a rematch of a 77-72 Rams' win Nov. 28.
Cornley's night ended after his left shoulder popped out 12 seconds into the second half. He returned to the bench at the 10:55 mark with his arm in a sling and his warm-up jacket draped on his back.
It's unknown whether Cornley will be available for Thursday's second-round game, but Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said it's similar to the "stinger" suffered March 5. Once the stinging goes away and he gets his feeling and strength back, Cornley's good to go.
Battle's buzzer-beater at the end of regulation was his only basket of the second half. And if not for a surprising 30 bench points, Penn State's season was likely over.
Battle lost balance and turned the ball over with six seconds left in regulation. But DeChellis said his point guard has an uncanny ability to not dwell on mistakes and let it roll off his back.
"I call him a lot of things, Mr. Big Shot sometimes isn't one of them," DeChellis said. "He's a winner. The kid loves to win, hates to lose. We fool around in practice. Sometimes I stack it so he can't win just to upset him a little bit and humble him.
"If we just said let's go play one minute and win it all, he'd be fine with that."
When Tuesday's game did go down to the wire, George Mason had no intention on fouling Battle to prevent a 3-point attempt.
Patriots' head coach Jim Larranaga doesn't have his team foul when leading by three late in the game because it has defended the perimeter so well all year. The Patriots are ranked 14th nationally in 3-point field goal defense.
"He's only a sophomore, and confidence grows with success," Larranaga said. "If you make game-winning shots, big 3's, driving lay-ups with the clock winding down and the pressure on you, your confidence just continues to grow throughout your career."
Tuesday's win was the first for the Lions in postseason play since an 82-74 victory against North Carolina March 18, 2001 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Battle finished with a game-high 24 points and 11 straight including his buzzer-beater.
Sophomore forward Jeff Brooks likes to say "Showtime" in the huddle around the four or five minute mark in the second half, signaling it's time for Battle to amaze once more.
"Showtime" took a little longer to start Tuesday night, but when the final buzzer sounded, Cornley left the bench knowing his career wasn't done.
"It's not just Jamelle," Battle said. "It's a lot of guys. Willie [Leiner], Stanley [Pringle], Danny [Morrissey], I know they didn't want to play their last game, and I didn't want to play my last game of the season."
