March 4, 2009
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., March 4, 2009 - Penn State (20-9; 9-7 Big Ten) will look to add to its post-season credentials and post a program record 15th home win of the season Thursday night in the Bryce Jordan Center when it takes on No. 23 Illinois (23-7; 11-6 Big Ten) in a 9:00 p.m. contest broadcast live on ESPN.
It will be $1 dog night at the Jordan Center and Penn State students are encouraged to "bring a friend for free" with $5 single-game student tickets being buy-one, get-one free and student season ticket holders able to pick up a free student ticket when they display their season ticket.
Penn State, currently tied for fourth in the Big Ten, will look to add to an NCAA tournament resume that includes five wins vs. the RPI Top 50 and no losses to teams currently ranked above 60 in the RPI. Penn State has won 11 of its last 13 Big Ten home games dating to a victory over No. 7 Michigan State last February. The Lions will attempt to post their second straight regular season sweep of Illinois after dropping the No. 18 ranked Illini, 38-33, in Champaign earlier this season, one of three wins against Top 20 ranked teams on the year.
Penn State posted its 10th 20-win season in program history with a 61-58 victory over Indiana in the BJC on Saturday. With two regular season games remaining and post-season play, the Lions are eyeing one of the top win marks in program history. The 1989-90 team owns the single-season wins record with a 25-9 mark. Penn State's nine Big Ten wins on the year are tied for Penn State's second-most ever behind a 12-6 campaign in 1995-96.
Seniors Jamelle Cornley and Stanley Pringle and standout sophomore Talor Battle all rank among the Top 15 in the conference in scoring. The Nittany Lions are 14-1 on the year when all three score in double figures. Battle is second in the Big Ten in scoring (17.0 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg).
The Illini stand third in the Big Ten at 11-6 after falling 74-66 to Big Ten leading Michigan State Sunday in Champaign. Four Illini scored in double-figures in that game led by Mike Tisdale's 15 points. Penn State held the 7-1 Tisdale to six points and no Illini reached double-figures in Penn State's 38-33 victory at Illinois earlier this year. The Illini shot 30 percent in the game and posted a 62-year low in scoring.
Demetri McCamey leads the team scoring 11.8 ppg as four Illini average double-figures. They rank second in the Nation scoring defense (55.7 ppg) and fifth in assists per game (17.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.44). Chester Frazier leads the Big Ten posting 5.3 apg and is sixth with 1.4 steals per game. Mike Davis (11.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) is a first-team All-Big Ten candidate.
Nittany Lion basketball tickets can be purchased by calling the Penn State ticket office during regular business hours at 814-865-5555, visiting GoPSUsports.com anytime, or calling Tickmaster toll free at 800-745-3000.