Nov. 25, 2010
Watch the Next Game Primer Video Scout with Coach Dan Earl
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 25, 2010 - The Nittany Lion basketball team (4-0) will look to improve to 5-0 to start a season for the second time under head coach Ed DeChellis and just the eighth time since 1930 on Friday when they take on Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. At 7:00 p.m. (ET).
The game will not be televised, but can be heard live on the Penn State Sports Network (1450 AM locally) with Steve Jones calling the action.
Penn State used a perfect 11-for-11 start to the second half to blow past CCSU on Monday to improve to 4-0 for just the ninth time since 1980. Senior forward Jeff Brooks continued his red-hot start to the season going a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the foul line for a career-high 21 points. It marked the third straight game in which Brooks has recorded a career high. The 6-8 swingman leads the Big Ten shooting 72 percent from the floor on the year and ranks sixth in the conference posting 17.0 ppg. Talor Battle take a Big Ten best 32 career 20-point games to Oxford and is averaging 16.3 ppg.
Penn State has played outstanding defense to start the year and stand second in the Big Ten holding opponents to just 36 percent shooting. Penn State has held the leading scorer of each of its first four opponents far below their average entering the game as those players have shot a combined 22 percent from the floor and scored 10.6 ppg below their season averages.
Ole Miss is led by Naismith Award candidate Chris Warren and fellow senior guard Zach Graham. Graham leads the Rebels posting 16.7 ppg while Warren is logging 15.7 ppg and brings 241 career threes into the game. Ole Miss stands 2-1 on the year after letting a double-digit lead get away and falling in overtime to Dayton, 78-71, in Oxford in their last game. Ole Miss went 24-11 last year and reached the NIT semifinals.
The Nittany Lions and Rebels have never met on the hardwood. Penn State is 8-15 all-time vs. SEC teams and won their last meeting with an SEC opponent downing Florida in Gainesville, 71-62, in the third round of the 2009 NIT. Penn State is 6-10 all-time in road non-conference games under coach Ed DeChellis and had a run of four-straight road non-conference wins snapped with a 45-42 loss at Temple last year.
Penn State will return to the Jordan Center Sunday when they take on Furman in a 3:30 p.m. tip on the Big Ten Network.
Nittany Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-865-5555. Season tickets are $220 for adults, $190 for seniors for a 19-game home schedule and $59 for students. PNC Flex Books are also available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions' Coaches Vs. Cancer game and the Lady Lions' Think Pink game.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Assistant Athletic Communications Director Brian Siegrist on Twitter (@PSUSTRETCH) and check GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatebasketball.
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