Jan. 30, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., Jan. 30, 2009 - Penn State will look to improve on it 5-3 Big Ten record, its best start since the 1995-96 season, Sunday when the Nittany Lions (16-5) take on No.9 Michigan State (17-3; 7-1 Big Ten) in East Lansing. Penn State, fourth in the Big Ten, will bring a three-game Big Ten win streak into the match-up with the Big Ten leading Spartans. The game will tip off at noon on the Big Ten Network.
Penn State has had a week off since its thrilling come-from-behind victory over Iowa, 63-59, last Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center. Senior forward Jamelle Cornley had 24 points to lead Penn State in that game while Talor Battle posted 20 and the pair combined to score 26 of the Lions last 27 points. Battle now leads the Big Ten in scoring (18.5), assists (5.4) and minutes (36.7) and ranks in the top three in five major categories. Cornley is shooting at a 63 percent clip in his last four games and averaging 21 points per game over that span.
Meanwhile, senior guard Stanley Pringle has been a terror on the road this season averaging 19.8 ppg while shooting 57 percent from the floor in Penn State's five games on opponent's floors. Pringle leads the Big Ten shooting 50 percent (43-of-86) from three on the year.
The Spartans are coming off a 71-56 domination of Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday. Sophomore guards Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers have each scored more than 20 points in the Spartans last two games. Lucas leads the team averaging 14.9 ppg while forward Raymar Morgan, who has been sick recently, is averaging 12.9 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Goran Suton has returned from injury to post 10.1 ppg and 8.2 rpg. MSU leads the conference in scoring (75.8), rebounding (40.2) and offensive board (14.6) and are second in field goal percentage (46.9). They have won 13 of their last 14 since falling 98-63 to #1 North Carolina on Dec. 3. They were stunned by Northwestern, 70-63, at home on Jan. 21.
Penn State has never won in 16 previous trips to East Lansing. The Michigan State game marks the first of five of eight games in February to be played on the road for Penn State, three against teams ranked in the Top 25.