BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For Joe Paterno, it was a throwback day.

Penn State's defense was its usual stout self and the offense was good enough in the second half to make a difference. Mistakes were rare and after two months of frustration, Paterno could finally enjoy himself.

"It's more fun to be out there today than it would be cutting grass," he joked Saturday after a 22-18 victory over Indiana. "What else am I going to do?"

Paterno paced the sideline like a youngster, kept teaching, and helped lead his players back from a dismal first half for his 342nd career victory. Only Florida State's Bobby Bowden has more wins in Division I-A history.

The 77-year-old Penn State coach certainly didn't act like he had given up on a lost season after losing six straight games and nine in a row on the road. Instead, he appeared determined to make amends for two straight losing seasons.

"I think overall, we're getting more consistent with the running game, so I was pleased," he said.

The victory ended one of Paterno's most frustrating periods since taking over the Nittany Lions (3-7, 1-6) in 1966.

They hadn't won a Big Ten game since beating Indiana last November, a span of seven games. And while the four-point victory over Indiana (3-7, 1-6), an annual cellar-dweller in the Big Ten, wasn't as impressive as some may like, the Nittany Lions left Bloomington satisfied.

"It's been a while and it feels good to finally be in one of these close games and come out with a victory," senior quarterback Zack Mills said. "We finally had some things go our way and made a couple plays."

Paterno's squad did get some help.

Under the Big Ten's experimental replay rule, three plays were reviewed. All went in favor of Penn State, including one that changed an incompletion into a 33-yard touchdown catch by Michael Robinson.

The Hoosiers also committed eight penalties, three on the Nittany Lions' final scoring drive - including a personal foul by offensive lineman Chris Voltattorni, who dropped his shoulder to hit Robinson after he went out of bounds.

Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo was disgusted with the action.

"I don't put up with that and I'm not going to put up with it," DiNardo said. "It's a lack of discipline, and not what we're all about at IU football."

Penn State took advantage, completing the nine-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run from Tony Hunt and a conversion run by Mills to wipe out the Hoosiers' 16-14 lead with 4:51 remaining.

The Hoosiers still had a chance, driving to the Penn State 1 with 2:13 left.

But the Penn State defense followed its instructions perfectly - adhering to assignments, staying in gaps and being aggressive. It was Paterno at work.

The Nittany Lions responded by shutting down Indiana on four straight runs for their biggest goal-line stand of the season. It gave Paterno a brief respite, even if some figured Indiana was one of the few gimmes still on Penn State's schedule.

"Indiana's a great team, but we expect to beat Indiana," Robinson said. "Nobody came to Penn State to be in the position we're in."

In the last two seasons, Penn State beat Indiana by a combined score of 110-32, and DiNardo used Saturday's margin to make the case that the Hoosiers had improved.

Paterno didn't even discuss Indiana. He was looking ahead, more concerned with getting things righted in State College before the season-finale against Michigan State.

Yet nobody in the Penn State locker room was suggesting Paterno had lost his touch.

"We definitely want to keep winning for coach Paterno. He's a great coach, always hanging in there with us," said Robinson, who had six catches for 99 yards and one TD.

After Saturday's win, Paterno wanted to keep the focus on the future.

He said he'd contact recruits after next week's game. He's still talking about getting timing down and clamoring for more precision on offense and more big plays on defense.

The question is how many more chances Paterno will get to bask in a victory.

"I personally love our coach and would be more than happy to see him here next year and the year after that," defensive end Tamba Hali said. "We love him as a head coach and don't want to let him go."