Dave Campbell, AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS -- Matt McGloin threw two touchdown passes to Derek Moye for Penn State in relief of injured starter Rob Bolden, and the Nittany Lions used struggling Minnesota to get their first Big Ten win, 33-21 on Saturday.
Minnesota's Adam Weber became the fifth Big Ten quarterback to reach 10,000 career yards, throwing three touchdown passes to Da'Jon McKnight and finishing 26 for 49 for 299 yards and one costly interception.
DeLeon Eskridge rushed 26 times for 111 yards for the Gophers (0-4, 1-7), who played their first game following the firing of coach Tim Brewster and the takeover by interim replacement Jeff Horton.
Bolden threw six interceptions -- and for only two scores -- in the previous five games, but the freshman completed his first nine passes Saturday. He was 11-for-13 for 130 yards and a touchdown to Brett Brackett before getting hurt midway through the second quarter when he was tackled by Mike Rallis near the sideline. Penn State (1-2, 4-3) didn't immediately reveal the nature of his injury.
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McGloin finished only 6-for-13 for 76 yards and an interception, but the sophomore's first career completion was a beauty. Right after Weber's end-zone heave to McKnight was intercepted by D'Anton Lynn and returned for 58 yards, McGloin zipped a 42-yard pass to Derek Moye for a touchdown that stretched the lead to 21-7.
This performance surely wasn't enough to satisfy the restless Penn State fans pushing for coach Joe Paterno to retire, but for a group that entered the game last in the Big Ten in points and total offense it looked like progress -- even against the conference's worst team.
Silas Redd rushed nine times for 17 yards and Evan Royster ran 10 times for 62 yards and a second-quarter touchdown.
TCF Bank Stadium's announced attendance was 48,479, the smallest in 12 games here. The Gophers are 4-8 in their new home, including 0-5 this year.
