Dec. 7, 2009
hotos/schools/psu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf">GAME NOTES VS UMBC
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 7, 2009 - The Nittany Lion basketball team (5-3) looks to enjoy a return to the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday when it takes on Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) in a 6:30 p.m. tip live on the Big Ten Network. The game can also be heard on the Penn State Sports Network (ESPN Radio 1450 locally).
The Nittany Lions wrapped up a string of five of six games away from home on Saturday with a tough 45-42 loss at Temple. The return home should help jump-start the Nittany Lion offense, which is averaging 79.0 ppg and shooting 54.2% from the floor in its three home games on the season. The Nittany Lions are 21-1 in non-conference home games the last three seasons.
Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) enters the game as the second leading scorer in the Big Ten posting 18.6 ppg and leads the Lions in rebounding (5.9), assists (3.3) and minutes (36.9) as well. Freshman Bill Edwards (Middletown, Ohio) has become a larger contributor after missing the first four games of the season with a partially torn MCL. The 6-6, 235-pound forward is coming off a career-high 11 rebounds at Temple and is tied with fellow freshman Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) for fourth on the team in scoring at 7.5 ppg.
UMBC (0-7) has yet to post a win on the season but has been close in six of its seven losses and is coming off a 76-67 loss at Toledo on Saturday. The Retrievers are led by 6-5 sophomore guard Chauncey Gilliam who averages 13.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
The teams will be meeting for the third time in the series, but the first since Penn State took a pair of victories at the Jordan Center in February of 1992 as the Lions transitioned from the A-10 to the Big Ten Conference.
Penn State season basketball tickets, PNC Bank Flex Book plans (10 tickets to use at any game for $99) or single game tickets can be purchased by visiting GoPSUsports.com, Ticketmaster or calling 814-865-5555. Single-game tickets for Nittany Lion games are $18 for lower bowl seating, $15 for upper bowl seating and $7/$5 for youth. Penn State also offers special group ticket rates (15 fans or more) of $10 for adults.
-NITTANY LIONS-