Jan. 10, 2012
Watch Interviews with Matt Glover and Jon Graham
BUY TICKETS TO TWO GAMES, GET A THIRD GAME FREE THROUGH THE BIG TEN SEASON - CALL 1-800-NITTANY
Like us on Facebook | Buy Tickets!| GOPSB.com
Penn State Basketball Show Live Thursdays from Damon's Grill
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., JAN. 10, 2012 - After a pair of impressive home outings, Penn State (9-8; 1-3 Big Ten) will look for its first Big Ten road win of the season when it takes on Nebraska (8-7; 0-4 Big Ten) in Lincoln, Neb. at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on the Big Ten Network.
The Lions posted just their fourth 80-point game in Big Ten play in the last 10 years Sunday in an upset bid against No. 12 Indiana that came up just short, 88-82. That following a 20-point rout of Purdue, 65-45, on Thursday at the BJC.
Penn State will make its third ever trip to Lincoln, but the first with the Huskers as a member of the Big Ten Conference. This will be the first meeting between the men's basketball program's on the hardwood as members of the Big Ten Conference. The teams last clashed in Lincoln during the second round of the 1995 NIT with the Nittany Lions claiming a 65-59 victory on their way Madison Square Garden and a third place finish in the NIT that year. Rahsaan Carlton led the Lions with 19 points in that clash.
Junior guard Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) will enter Wednesday's game as one of two players playing in a Big Six conference to rank in the top five of his conference's statistics in scoring, assists and steals. Frazier stands second in the Big Ten in scoring (17.4), first in assists (6.8) and second in steals (2.3).
Penn State will return to the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday for a 4:00 p.m. tip vs. Minnesota (12-5; 0-4 Big Ten) live on BTN.
PENN STATE (9-8; 1-3 Big Ten) @ NEBRASKA (8-7; 0-4 Big Ten)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11, 2012 @ 8:30 P.M. (ET)
DEVANEY CENTER (13,595), LINCOLN, NEB.
GAME INFO
TELEVISION: BTN: Eric Collins & Shon Morris
RADIO: Penn State Sports Network; Local: 1450 AM; Sirius: CH 128; XM; CH -
Steve Jones (p-by-p) & Dave Baker (analyst)
LIVE STATS & AUDIO:
COACHES:
PENN STATE: Patrick Chambers - 9-8 (1st at PSU); 51-36 (3rd Overall)
NEBRASKA: Doc Sadler - 97-78 (7th at NU); 145-96 (8th Overall)
RPI: Penn State: #126; Indiana: #112
NEXT UP:
Penn State will return to the Jordan Center Sunday for a match-up with Minnesota. The Lions won both match-ups last season, both by the score of 66-63. The Gophers lead the series 27-10, but it is tied 8-8 in State College. This will be the only regular season meeting between the teams this season.
THE GAME:
Following two of its most well played games of the season, a 20-point rout of Purdue and a near upset of No. 12 Indiana (88-82). Penn State will hit the road for its first-ever Big Ten contest at Nebraska. It will be the Lions' third trip overall to Lincoln, where Penn State is 1-1. The Lions downed the Huskers 65-59 in the second round of the 1995 NIT in their last trip to Lincoln and the last meeting between the schools. Penn State leads the overall series 2-1. The teams split a home and home series in 1980 and 1981, each team winning on its home floor.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST:
Penn State's 82 points in an 88-82 loss to No. 12 Indiana on Jan. 8 marked just the fourth 80+ point game vs. a Big Ten opponent for the Lions in the last 10 years and Penn State's highest scoring output in the Big Ten since upsetting No. 7 Michigan State, 85-76, in the Jordan Center on Feb. 2, 2008. It was Penn State's first 80-point game in the Big Ten since posting an 81-70 victory at Northwestern on Feb. 28, 2010. Penn State's other 80-point Big Ten game in the last 10 years also came vs. Northwestern (83-57) in 2007. The 82 points equaled Penn State's season high posted in an 82-71 win vs. Youngstown State.
FRAZIER CONFERENCE TRIFECTA:
Ranking 1ST in the Big Ten in assists (6.8), 2ND in scoring (17.4) and 2ND in steals (2.3), Tim Frazier is one two players in a Big Six conference to rank in the top five of those three categories in their conference's statistics. He is joined by Mississippi State's Dee Bost who ranks fourth in scoring (16.2), fourth in assists (4.3) and second in steals (2.3) in the SEC.
LIONS CHALLENGE NO. 12 HOOSIERS:
Penn State was within two points of the lead three times in the final minute, and four times during the game cut a double-digit lead to five or less in an 88-82 loss to No. 12-ranked Indiana on Jan. 8 in the BJC. Penn State took the nation's top three-point shooting team's best punch as the Hoosiers shot 66.7 percent from three and came within one of the Big Ten team record for a game hitting 16-of-24 threes in the game, including a run of seven-straight from behind the arc in the first half.
FRAZIER FILLING STAT LINES LIKE FEW OTHERS:
Leading Penn State in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals, Tim Frazier is on pace to become the first Lion ever to post a top 10 season in scoring, assists and steals in the same year. At his current pace, he could become the first Lion ever to eclipse 500 points, 150 assists and 50 steals in the same year. Currently third among active career assist leaders in the Big Ten behind Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor and Purdue's Lewis Jackson, Frazier's 17. 4 points and 6.8 assists per game have him on pace to become just the fifth Lion ever to eclipse 300 points and 150 assists in a season. The feat has been accomplished six times total, the last by Talor Battle with 635 points and 189 assists in 2009.
FORCING TURNOVERS:
Penn State grabbed eight steals vs. Indiana, the Lions' 11th game of the year with seven or more and fifth in the last six games. The Lions turned over two of the top teams in the country in protecting the ball. Northwestern had 12 turnovers in the game after entering the game averaging 9.9 per contest and Purdue had 12 after entering averaging just 9.7 per game. Tim Frazier had a total of seven steals in those two games.
Season tickets for Nittany Lion Basketball are $200 for adults, $170 for faculty/staff and seniors, $80 for youth (18 and under) and $59 for students. Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are $117 for adults, $91 for faculty/staff and seniors and $52 for youth. Penn State students will be admitted for free to Lady Lion basketball games beginning this season.
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 on Feb. 11 vs. Nebraska and the Lady Lions' Think Pink game on Feb. 26 vs. Minnesota.
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.
-NITTANY LIONS-