BIG PICTUREPenn State: The Nittany Lions climbed above .50s at George

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State center Michael Ojo is making a strong early season case for the Atlantic Coast Conferences most improved player.The 7-foot-1 senior from Nigeria already has a double-double and two games, including a career-high 13 points against Winthrop on Nov. 18. Coming into the season Ojos career high in rebounds was nine and he had scored in double figures just once.Ojo is averaging 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Seminoles (6-1), who face George Washington on Sunday in the BB&T Classic in Washington, D.C. Ojos modest numbers are impressive considering he is only playing 13 minutes per game.In Ojos first three seasons he averaged 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds.Now he needs to find a way to get more playing time.If he stays out of foul trouble and stay out there longer his numbers would be crazy. The numbers hes putting up now are crazy enough, said sophomore guard Dwayne Bacon, who is leading the team in scoring (18.1). He worked so hard during the offseason because he knew it was going to be his last year.Ojo didnt play last season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee during preseason practice. Because Ojo did not play a lot of competitive basketball before arriving at Florida State (he moved to the United States in 2012 and played one season at Tennessee Temple Academy), coach Leonard Hamilton said the time on the bench allowed Ojo to develop a better understanding of the game.After last year I thought I was going to be a coach, Ojo said laughing. It was helpful being able to see from the coaches eyes because you can see the floor well from the bench. Every day I was watching films just like they do. Now anytime someone makes a mistake or there is a lapse I am able to help out.Ojos other big improvement has come at the free throw line. He is making 71.4 percent of his foul shots after converting just 40.2 percent from 2013-15. Ojo has been to the line 28 times already. The most he has been to the line is 47 in 2013-14.Because Ojo couldnt practice jump shots as much while rehabbing, the one thing he could do on the court was free throws.I shoot a very good percentage in practice but was never able to take it to a game, he said. Ive been focusing more in games. I would do more running and sprints before shooting in practice so that during games when I am tired it is more muscle memory.Ojo has been getting to the line more because he has been more aggressive in the paint and drawing fouls. Hamilton said Ojo has done a better job of catching the ball in the post which has resulted in better drives near the basket.With Hamilton still trying to figure out his best playing combinations before the start of conference play on Dec. 28, Ojo and the post players have made the most of their opportunities when asked to deliver.As the Seminoles begin a stretch of four games in eight days, those opportunities could increase.Hes letting the game come to him and is much more assured of himself. I think you see that in how well he is playing, said Hamilton of Ojo.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy China Jerseys Cheap . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. China Jerseys Stitched . 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Freshman Tony Carr had 12 points.Were a little bit on the roller-coaster ride, but I felt like they were prepared and ready to play tonight, Penn State coach Pat Chambers said. I havent been real happy with the way theyve been playing, but their focus was different and their approach was different and we really saw that in the second half.George Washington committed 15 turnovers, leading to 14 Penn State points. It also struggled from the perimeter, shooting 5 of 24 on its 3-point attempts.The Colonials (3-3) played without junior guard Yuta Watanabe, who sat out with a lower leg injury suffered in practice. Watanabes 13.4 points per game rank second on the team.I dont think its anything long-term, hopefully, but we cant use that as an excuse and use that as a crutch, George Washington interim coach Maurice Joseph said.Senior forward Tyler Cavanaugh had 15 points, all in the second half, for George Washington. Cavanaugh, who averages 18.8 points, picked up two fouls and was limited to eight minutes in the first half.The Nittany Lions have won two in a row since dropping back-to-back games to Duke and Cincinnati in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. Penn State shot 50 percent in the second half while outrebounding the Colonials 21-16 after the break.dddddddddddde picked it up the last 20 minutes, which was great to see, Chambers said. We saw glimpses of who we can be.BIG PICTUREPenn State: The Nittany Lions climbed above .500 with a victory in their first true road game of the season while avenging a 76-66 loss at George Washington last season.George Washington: After a promising start, the Colonials have dropped three in a row after falling to Georgia and UAB in the CBE Classic earlier in the week.STAT OF THE NIGHTGeorge Washingtons 27-game nonconference home winning streak ended with the loss. The Colonials previous nonleague setback at Smith Center was a 65-62 loss to Kansas State on Dec. 8, 2012.TURNING POINTPenn State opened the second half on a 15-2 run, taking the lead for good on junior Payton Banks 3-pointer with 15:52 to play.INJURIESPenn State sophomore Davis Zemgulis suffered a sprained ankle late in the first half and did not return. Thats going to hurt us because hes been giving us really quality minutes, Chambers said. He made another 3 tonight and its just a matter of time for him to break out. Zemgulis has played in every game this season.UP NEXTPenn State plays host to Georgia Tech on Tuesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Nittany Lions have won games in the event the last two years.George Washington looks for its first victory away from home this season when it visits Harvard on Tuesday. ' ' '