Jan. 4, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; Jan. 4, 2011 - The Nittany Lion basketball team will tip-off its 20th Big Ten home season on Thursday, Jan. 5 when Penn State takes on Purdue in an 8:00 p.m. tip at the Bryce Jordan Center. As the Nittany Lions prepare for the first of their nine-game Big Ten home campaign, Penn State announced a new three games for two ticket deal and partnership with the Big Ten Network in the Home Court Challenge presented by BTN.
Through the remainder of the Big Ten home season, Penn State will offer fans the chance to buy tickets to any two Big Ten home games of their choice and receive a ticket to a third Big Ten home game of their choice for free. The Big Ten entered the week as the nation's leading conference in the RPI and Sagarin rankings and tied for the most teams ranked in the national polls with five.
Penn State will play five weekend home dates starting this Sunday with a contest vs. No. 12 Indiana at noon at the Jordan Center. Along with taking on Purdue (Jan. 5) and Indiana (Jan. 8) this week, Penn State will play Big Ten home dates vs. Minnesota (Sun., Jan. 15), Illinois (Thur., Jan. 19), Wisconsin (Tues., Jan. 31), Nebraska (Sat., Feb. 11), Iowa (Thur., Feb. 16), Northwestern (Sat., Feb. 25) and Michigan (Sun., March 4).
Fans are encouraged to call 1-800-NITTANY to take advantage of the three for two ticket deal as well as many other promotions and give-aways throughout the Big Ten season.
Penn State has also teamed up with the Big Ten Network for the Home Court Challenge -a charitable competition among Big Ten basketball student sections and the brainchild of Penn State Nittany Nation vice president Paul Hook.
The Home Court Challenge presented by BTN is a student-crafted competition among Big Ten basketball student sections that provides a benchmark for evaluating the impact of a student section, while raising money and awareness for charities partnered with the Big Ten Network.
In order for the charity to win, student sections are asked to distract opponents during free throws. The student section that allows the lowest overall opponent free throw percentage during Big Ten conference games will be declared the winner.
In addition to yearlong bragging rights, the Big Ten Network has pledged to donate $5,000 to the winning student section's paired charity. Nittany Nation's charity of choice will be The Four Diamonds Fund benefiting pediatric cancer patients.
In addition to the charitable donation, the winning student section will receive a traveling trophy with a nameplate to be updated each year. These awards will be presented to charity representatives and student section officers at the Big Ten Tournament each March.
PNC Flex Books for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion basketball are 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 on Feb. 11 vs. Nebraska and the Lady Lions' Think Pink game on Feb. 26 vs. Minnesota.
Nittany Lion Basketball single-game tickets or group tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY, visiting GoPSUsports.com or through Ticketmaster. Single-game tickets are $18 for the lower bowl and $15 for upper level tickets for adults. Youth tickets (18 and under) are $7 for the lower bowl and $5 for upper level seating, while Penn State student tickets (University Park or branch campus) are $5. Penn State also offers special basketball group ticket rates for groups of 15 fans or more. Nittany Lion group rates are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Associate 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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