San Antonio, TX -- (Sports Network) - Rodney Kinlaw rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries and Evan Royster added a 38-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Penn State erased an early deficit to top Texas A&M, 24-17, at the Alamo Bowl.

Anthony Morelli completed 15-of-31 passes for 143 yards, one TD and one interception for the Nittany Lions (9-4), who finished the season winning three of their last four games and gave legendary head coach Joe Paterno a win in his 500th game.

Paterno, who has been at the helm in Happy Valley since 1966, has compiled a 372-125-3 record overall. He also picked up his 23rd bowl win -- the most for any coach in FBS history.

Royster finished with 65 yards on nine carries and Daryll Clark added 50 yards and a score on six carries. Deon Butler caught four balls for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Stephen McGee threw for 164 yards and one pick on 19-of-31 completions for the Aggies (7-6), who dropped four of their last five.

Mike Goodson scored both touchdowns on the ground, ending the game with 65 yards on 14 carries and one key fumble.

Penn State took a 24-17 lead with 19 seconds left in the third quarter, as Royster broke through the line and ran untouched 38 yards to the end zone.

Early in the fourth, the Aggies began a drive in the shadow of their own goal line, then marched 93 yards in 16 plays. Unfortunately, they came away with no points after McGee lost four yards on a 4th-and-inches from Penn State's two-yard-line.

Although Texas A&M had a final drive to forge at least a tie, McGee's pass to Jorvorskie Lane on 3rd-and-20 from his own 33 fell incomplete. Penn State ran out the remaining 2:01 to preserve the victory.

Kevin Kelly missed a 47-yard field goal on Penn State's first possession, and the Aggies took over on their own 30-yard-line. Nine plays later, Goodson scored on an option pitch to the left side from the one.

On the ensuing kickoff A.J. Wallace fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Aggies' Kenny Brown at the PSU 16. Goodson broke off a 16-yard run on the first play from scrimmage to score two TDs in 12 seconds and give Texas A&M a 14-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions got on the board less than a minute into the second, when Butler made a leaping catch for a 30-yard touchdown. After a lengthy review process, it was determined the ball did not pop out of his hands as he cradled it while falling to the turf.

The defense came up big on the next Aggies' possession, forcing a Goodson fumble which the Nits recovered at the 11. Clark rolled into the end zone on the following play to tie the game.

Kelly redeemed himself by hitting a 25-yard field goal with 19 seconds left before the half to put Penn State up 17-14.

Matt Szymanski equalized for the Aggies, making a 38-yarder with 3:57 to play in the third quarter for a 17-17 tie.

Game Notes:

Penn State has won three of the four meetings, including a 24-0 victory over the Aggies in the 1999 Alamo Bowl....The Nittany Lions have won their last three bowl appearances.