April 16, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 16, 2009 -After completing a record 27-win season in which they captured the program's first-ever national tournament title, the Nittany Lion basketball team will celebrate one of the most outstanding seasons in program history Friday at the 30th Annual Nittany Lion Hoops Club Banquet at the Nittany Lion Inn ballroom.
A gathering of 340 friends, family and fans is expected to attend the sold-out event hosted by the "Voice of Nittany Lion Basketball" Steve Jones. The event will begin with a social hour at 6:00 p.m. with coaches and players mingling with friends and fans and the opportunity to take pictures with the National Invitation Tournament Championship Trophy, which will be on display. The dinner and awards ceremony, featuring a highlight video produced by Mind Over Media, will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year Ed DeChellis will address the crowd and the Nittany Lions will hand out post-season awards for most valuable player, most improved player, most inspirational player, scrappiest player, Mr. Defense, Unsung Hero and the Coaches and Scholastic achievement awards. Penn State will also honor graduating seniors Jamelle Cornley, Danny Morrissey, Stanley Pringle and Will Leiner and each will address the crowd.
Penn State posted a 27-11 record in 2008-09 breaking the program record for wins in a season by two victories. The Lions 69-63 victory over Baylor in the NIT Championship delivered the program's first-ever national tournament title and just the second ever post-season tournament title. Penn State finished tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a 10-8 record, it's second most Big Ten wins ever, and won 10 of its last 13 games, including a record tying six in March. Cornley was named the MVP of the NIT and was joined by sophomore Talor Battle on the all-tournament team. Battle also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, set a program single-season record with 189 assists and posted the fifth-best season scoring total with 635 points. Cornley finished his career at Penn State ranking fourth all-time in points (1,579) and rebounds (755).
-NITTANY LIONS-