IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) _ Gyasi Cline-Heard scored 20 points and Jamaal Tate sank two free throws in the final seconds in a controversial ending in Penn State's 78-73 victory Thursday over slumping Iowa.

Joe Crispin finished with 15 points for the Nittany Lions (17-9, 7-8 Big Ten), which broke a two-game losing streak and kept its NCAA tournament hopes alive. Brody Boyd scored 19 points, Dean Oliver and Duez Henderson 15 each and Reggie Evans 13 points and 16 rebounds for Iowa (18-10, 7-8), which lost for the sixth time in the last seven games.

Crispin, held to just four points at halftime, hit a jumper to ignite a 16-0 Penn State run that turned a 55-47 deficit into a 63-55 lead with 4:26 remaining.

Iowa rallied, and Oliver's 3-pointer with 14.3 seconds left cut Penn State's lead to 73-71. A free throw by Brandon Watkins made it 74-71. Boyd heaved an off-balance 3-point attempt that had no chance, but the freshman guard was fouled by Watkins and sank two of three foul shots to bring Iowa to within one, 74-73, with 3.8 seconds left.

After Boyd's third free throw, the ball was on the floor while Henderson immediately fouled Tate before the clock started. After several minutes, the officials ruled that the foul amounted to a dead-ball technical foul, drawing a howl of boos from the announced crowd of 15,500.

When play resumed, Tate drained both free throws to give Penn State a 76-73 lead _ and possession of the ball after the free throws. Crispin's layup with 1.3 seconds accounted for the final score.

Penn State hit just 8-of-27 field goals (29.6 percent) in the first half but ended up shooting 43.9 percent. The Nittany Lions were able to stay close because of solid free throw shooting, 22 of 28, or 78.6 percent.