Saddler scores 19 for Delaware in 84-69 win over Penn in NIT Season Tip-off

Devon Saddler scored 19 points and Delaware used a 32-7 run spanning halftime to pull away from Pennsylvania in an 84-69 victory in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-off on Monday night.

Josh Brinkley added 15 points and Terrell Rogers had 14 for Delaware (1-1), which will play host Virginia on Tuesday night.

The Quakers (1-1), who overcame a 22-point deficit in their season opener against Maryland-Baltimore County, trailed by as many as 24 points and closed within 74-65 with 3:24 left, but got no closer. Fran Dougherty led Penn with 21 points and Miles Cartwright had 20.

The Blue Hens trailed 31-30 with 3:31 left in the first half before two free throws by Saddler sparked a 13-4 run to end the half. Delaware tacked on 19 of the first 22 points to start the second half and beat the Quakers for just the fifth time in 23 meetings.