Feb. 19, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Feb. 19, 2010 - Coming off its first conference win of the season, the Nittany Lion basketball team (9-16; 1-12 Big Ten) will look to continue its strong offensive play when it takes on Michigan (13-12; 6-7 Big Ten) Saturday in Ann Arbor. The game will tip at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on the Big Ten Network and can be heard live on the Penn State Sports Network.
Penn State posted 81 points on Wednesday, bettering its previous conference high point out-put on the season by 10 points, in dispatching Northwestern in Evanston. Five Nittany Lions scored in double-digits as Penn State hit 56 percent from the floor and dominated the boards, 36-21.
Junior David Jackson, who posted 20 points in that game, has been playing the best basketball of his career over the last seven games logging seven-straight 20-point outings and averaging 13.7 ppg. Sophomore Chris Babb matched Jackson's 20 in Evanston as he downed 4-of-8 from three. The pair has both raised their scoring average in Big Ten play to join All-Big Ten standout Talor Battle to form a solid scoring trio. Battle enters Saturday's game second in the Big Ten in scoring at 19.2 ppg and third in conference games in assists logging 4.3 apg.
Michigan has posted two straight wins, including an 80-78 overtime victory at Iowa on Tuesday. DeShawn Sims had 27 and 10 boards in that game while Manny Harris had 20 and 10 boards. Sims had 25 in the first meeting between Michigan and Penn State on the year as the Wolverines overcame a 16-point second half deficit to post a 64-55 victory in State College. Harris ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (18.5) while Sims is right behind in fourth (17.8). The Wolverines are 9-4 at home on the year, including wins over ranked teams Connecticut & Ohio State.
- NITTANY LIONS -