Dec. 2, 2008
Wild4pennstatehoops Blog Tune into the broadcast on ESPN2 and keep your computer near by during the media timeouts for inside information you won't get on TV about your Nittany Lions! Stacey Wild's first post will come tomorrow before leaving on the plane with the team and she will update throughout the trip. Look for her first post tomorrow and feel free to write comments on the blog as she updates!
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., Dec. 2, 2008 - The Nittany Lion basketball team (6-1) will look to make it two in a row in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Wednesday when they travel to Atlanta, Ga., for a 7:30 p.m. tip against Georgia Tech (4-0) live on ESPN2.
Penn State won its Challenge game last year with a 66-61 victory over Virginia Tech in the Jordan Center. This will mark the eighth Challenge game for the Nittany Lions who are 2-5 in their previous seven match-ups, having lost a close game at Georgia Tech, 77-73, in 2006.
Penn State is coming off a 2-1 week in Philadelphia in which it downed Penn (85-73) and Towson (78-54) and fell to Rhode Island (77-72). Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) continued his stellar play over the Thanksgiving week averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists over the three games. He comes into Wednesday as the second leading scorer in the Big Ten at 19.4 points per game and ranking in the top five in seven conference statistical categories.
Battle is joined by senior Jamelle Cornley (Columbus, Ohio) in ranking in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding in the Big Ten. Cornley is posting 15 points and 7.3 boards a game and had a season-high 23 points in the loss to Rhode Island.
Georgia Tech is unbeaten on the year and is coming off a close 79-76 victory over Jacksonville in Atlanta last Friday. The Yellow Jackets are led by their large frontcourt. Sophomore Gani Lawal (6-9) leads the team with 19.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Senior Alade Aminu (6-10) posts 15 points and eight boards a game and junior Zachery Peacock (6-8) adds 12 points and four boards a game.
This will be the 10th year of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with the ACC holding a 56-30 advantage in games won and having claimed the previous nine Commissioner's Cups.
The Nittany Lions will return to the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, Dec. 6 when they take on Temple in a 6:00 p.m. tip on the Big Ten Network.
Nittany Lion basketball tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office during regular business hours at 814-865-5555 or visiting GoPSUsports.com anytime. Penn State basketball offers the most flexible ticket package ever with the 2009 FLEX pack. For just $99 fans can receive 10 vouchers that can be redeemed in any quantity, bring one friend or nine, for any men's or women's game on any date. You pick the games, the dates and the number of tickets that work for you. The Penn State Basketball FLEX Pack - now our schedule fits yours!