In men's NIT semifinal action last night at New York, Talor Battle scored 17 points, Andrew Jones had career highs of 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Penn State hung on for dear life after squandering a big lead for a 67-59 victory over Notre Dame. Jamelle Cornley added 15 points and Stanley Pringle had 10 for the Nittany Lions (26-11), who set a school record for wins in a season and will play Baylor for the championship tomorrow night. In the earlier semifinal, Curtis Jerrells scored 25 points and LaceDarius Dunn had 23, leading Baylor into the championship game with a 76-62 victory over San Diego State . . . Purdue center JaJuan Johnson has decided to return for his junior year after having a breakout season. The All-Big Ten selection says he's not ready for the NBA, and he will focus on getting stronger and improving his shot . . . The University of Virginia says new men's coach Tony Bennett has agreed to "a memorandum of understanding" that will pay him $1.7 million annually for five years. Virginia also said Bennett will receive a $500,000 signing bonus and another $500,000 if he stays five years. Bennett, 39, was hired Monday after three years at Washington State. He had a 68-30 record with the Cougars and twice took Washington State to the NCAA Tournament . . . A Virginia Commonwealth official says the school has picked Florida assistant Shaka Smart to be its men's basketball coach. The official said Smart has not signed a contract, but an announcement is planned for tomorrow . . . Missouri men's coach Mike Anderson passed up a sizable raise offered by Georgia to instead sign a new seven-year contract with the school he helped lead to the brink of the Final Four. The university said financial details of the deal will be announced later.
