Nov. 16, 2007
Penn State vs. Canisius Game Notes
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., Nov. 16, 2007 - The Penn State basketball team (1-0; 0-0 Big Ten) will look to build on its season opening victory vs. St. Francis on Monday when the Nittany Lions take on Canisius (0-1; 0-0 MAAC) tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Tonight is "Scout Night" with all scouts in uniform receiving a free youth ticket to the game.
The game will be carried live on ESPN360 (a web based service) and can be heard live on the Penn State Sports Network (WMAJ 1450 AM & WBUS 93.7 FM in State College) with Steve Jones and Dick Jerardi calling the action.
Preseason All-Big Ten selection and Naismith Trophy candidate Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn.) led Penn State in the 74-64 opening win posting his 18th career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Penn State did not have a player log more than 30 minutes in the game for the first time in five seasons under coach Ed DeChellis and had nine players play 12 minutes or more. Among those where five new additions to the Penn State line-up including freshman Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.), who was second on the team with 12 points, and junior transfer Stanley Pringle (Virginia Beach, Va.), who equaled a Jordan Center record and came up one shy of the Penn State single game mark with seven steals.
Canisius dropped its season opener at home to Colgate, 61-47, on Tuesday. The Griffs shot just 27 percent from the floor for the game. They have seven freshman on their roster, two of which start. Senior forward Malesa Pawel (6-6) led the team with 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three off the bench. Friday's game is the first of five straight on the road for Canisius.
The Nittany Lions will head to Orlando, Fla. on Tuesday as they prepare to play three games in the Old Spice Classic. Penn State opens the tournament on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22 when they take on South Carolina in a noon tip. That game will be shown live on ESPN2. All of Penn State's games in the tournament will be shown on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Tickets for Nittany Lion basketball can be purchased by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office, calling 814-865-5555 or by clicking on the ticket link on www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State offers discounts for groups of 15 or more. Any groups interested in purchasing single-game tickets should contact Justin Weyman in the ticket office at 814-863-6757.