STATE COLLEGE, Pa.(AP) Al Nolen sank three free throws in the last 5.9 seconds, including two following a steal, as Minnesota rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit to defeat Penn State, 76-73 on Saturday.

Tied at 73 with less than a minute left, Nolen intercepted an errant pass at the foul line from Penn State's Geary Claxton, who was double-teamed in the post. Nolen drove the length of the court before an intentional foul call on Jamelle Cornley.

Nolen hit both foul shots, then sank another free throw less than a second later before the Nittany Lions' Talor Battle missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Minnesota (12-3, 2-1 Big Ten) notched a confidence-building win in a matchup of teams trying to make unexpected waves in the conference. Tubby Smith, in his first year as Gophers coach, got his first Big Ten road win.

Blake Hoffarber had 19 points for Minnesota. His hot shooting and the team's pressure defense got Minnesota quickly back into the game.

Claxton led Penn State (10-5, 2-1) with 19 points and 10 rebounds, his ninth double-double of the season.

The Nittany Lions' seven-game winning streak, its longest since 2000-01, came to a halt. Penn State couldn't handle Minnesota's press and missed numerous free throws down the stretch, including several from Claxton, Cornley and Battle.

A three-point play by Brandon Hassell gave Penn State a 58-42 lead with about 13 minutes left that had the normally-docile home crowd roaring with delight.

But the Gophers charged back, with Hoffarber hitting four 3s in a span of three-plus minutes. Whether wide-open or off a screen, the freshman could rarely be stopped.