Jan. 11, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 10, 2010 - Penn State (8-7; 0-3 Big Ten) will begin a run of five of its next seven games on the road at a recently hospitable location as the Nittany Lions look to record their fourth-straight win in Champaign, Illinois when they take on the Illini at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on the Big Ten Network.
Penn State has pulled of a string of thrilling victories at Illinois in recent years, beginning with a 66-65 upset of No. 6 Illinois in 2006, which stands as the largest road upset in program history. The Nittany Lions downed No. 16 ranked Illinois in Assembly Hall last year in a 38-33 defensive struggle that stands as the lowest scoring game in Assembly Hall history. Penn State has won four of the last five meetings with the Illini, which bring an 11-5 record and 3-0 Big Ten mark into Tuesday, with the last five games being decided by an average of 2.4 ppg.
The Nittany Lions will be looking to end a three-game losing skid and post their first conference win of the season after letting a 16-point second half lead slip away vs. Michigan last Thursday. Chris Babb led the Lions in that game with 14 points on a career-best 4-of-5 from three.
Talor Battle ranks as the second leading scorer in the Big Ten posting 18.1 ppg and stands just six rebounds shy of becoming just the fourth Nittany Lion ever, and first since 1992, to post 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and 300 assists on a career.
Illinois is coming of a big come-back win at Indiana on Saturday. The Illini trailed by 15 before pulling out a 66-60 win despite shooting just 39 percent. Demetri McCamey leads the Illini with 14.1 ppg and leads the Big Ten posting 5.9 assists per game. Forward Mike Davis (11.8 ppg) leads the Big Ten in rebounding logging 10.1 rebounds per game. The Illini have four players averaging in double-digits, including 7-1 center Mike Tisdale (12.6 ppg).
- NITTANY LIONS -