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UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Stefan Vaaks scored 15 points, Jason Edwards scored 14 points and Providence took control in the second half to beat Penn State 77-65 on Saturday in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase.
Jaylin Sellers added 13 points and Oswin Ehrunmwunse scored 11 points for Providence (4-2).
In suffering its first loss of the season, reserve Freddie Dilione V scored a career-high 22 points and Melih Tunca added 11 for the Nittany Lions (5-1). Tunca was the only Penn State starter in double-figures scoring and the starting unit finished 30.5% (11 of 36) shooting.
Dilione finished the game shooting 8-for-18 from the field and drilled four of his eight attempts from 3-point range to finish with his career-high scoring mark. The redshirt junior booked his fifth game in double figures this season in addition to his fifth consecutive, surpassing his previous career high scoring mark of 21 points set against Oregon on January 12 of this year.
He also managed to lead Penn State in rebounding with nine boards while pacing the Nittany Lions in assists with four and steals with two.
Providence turned its 32-31 advantage into a 10-point lead as the Friars emerged from halftime with a 9-0 run as Vaaks made a 3-pointer, Sellers threw down two dunks and Edwards made a layup.
After a two-minute scoreless span by both teams later in the second half, the Nittany Lions' Josh Reed made a 3 with 9:56 left to reduce Penn State's deficit to 55-52. Dilione's basket with 3:50 left got Penn State within 64-63 but it couldn't get past. Providence closed with a 13-2 run shooting 5 of 6 from the foul line and Vaaks making a pair of 3s in a 23-second stretch.
The Friars now have won back-to-back contests and three of their last four.
Penn State features the youngest team in the country among all Power 4 schools.
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Penn State returns home to host Boston University Tuesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will air on Peacock.