Jan. 31, 2011
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 31, 2011 - Penn State (12-8; 5-4) will look to post its fourth victory over a Top 25 ranked opponent in it last seven games Tuesday when it takes on No. 24-ranked Illinois (14-7; 4-4 Big Ten) at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. Tuesday in a 9:00 p.m. (ET) tip.
The game can be seen live on the Big Ten Network and heard live on the Penn State Sports Network, 1450 AM locally, and on Sirius channel 126 and XM radio channel 196.
Battling a large winter storm that began hitting the Midwest on Monday, Penn State's flight to Champaign was unable to land in Champaign or nearby Indianapolis and was diverted to Evansville, Ind. late Monday night. The Nittany Lions stayed the night there and will attempt to bus the three hours north to Champaign in the morning.
The teams will continue the closest series in the Big Ten over the last four seasons. The average margin of victory in the last eight meetings has been 3.1 ppg. Eight of the last 11 meetings have been decided by five points or less and five of those by one point. The Lions knocked off the then No. 16-ranked Illini 57-55 on Jan. 11 in the Bryce Jordan Center on a last second Andrew Jones put-back of a Talor Battle lay-up attempt in traffic.
Penn State has won five of the last eight meetings between the schools. The Lions are 5-10 in Champaign, posting wins there in three of their last four trips. The last four games in Champaign have been decided by just 2.7 ppg. Illinois, which leads the series 24-12, squeezed out a 54-53 victory in Champaign last year as Battle missed three late three-point attempts to take the lead. Penn State's 66-65 victory over the No. 6-ranked Illini in Champaign in 2006 marked the Lions' first victory over a ranked opponent under Ed DeChellis and the highest ranked opponent ever beaten on the road in program history.
Battle enters Tuesday's game second in the Big Ten averaging 20.4 ppg and as the reigning Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after posting a pair of 20-point games last week in victories over Iowa and No. 15 Wisconsin. Battle has scored in double-digits in 17-straight games vs. ranked opponents and is averaging 18.4 ppg over that stretch. He led Penn State with 26 points in the first meeting with Illinois this season.
Penn State has won the rebounding battle in six-straight games (+8 rebounding advantage) - five of those games vs. Top 20 teams - and has held each of the last six opponents (MSU, ILL, OSU, PUR, IA & WIS) well below its season scoring average and a combined 94 points and 15.6 ppg below average. Penn State leads the Big Ten allowing opponents 26.9 rebounds per game and is third giving up 63.4 ppg in Big Ten play.
Penn State is tied for first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally with three victories vs. Top 25 ranked teams on the year. Penn State, St. John's and Vanderbilt are the only teams to record three wins against The AP Top 25 while being unranked this season. Penn State has posted three wins vs. ranked teams on a season for just the fifth time in program history but the second time in the last three years under coach Ed DeChellis.
The Illini bring a two-game losing skid into Tuesday having fallen to No. 1 Ohio State (73-68) at home and at Indiana (52-49) in their last two outings. They bring a 14-7 record and 4-4 mark in the Big Ten into the game. Demetri McCamey leads the team posting 15.1 ppg and a Big Ten best 6.9 apg. Big men Mike Davis (10.9) and Mike Tisdale (10.0) also average double-figure scoring and 6.7 and 7.1 rebounds per game, respectively.
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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