| PENN STATE (9-6, 0-2) vs. MINNESOTA (6-8, 0-2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Jan. 4, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's basketball is set to return to the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time since Dec. 5, hosting Minnesota at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5. The matchup will broadcast live on the Big Ten Network with Cory Provus and Jon Crispin on the call.
STORYLINES
- Both Penn State and Minnesota are searching for their first Big Ten victory of the year.
- The Nittany Lions and Jordan Center will celebrate 20 years in the BJC Tuesday. Minnesota was the first foe when the building opened with Penn State capturing a 76-61 win Jan. 11, 1996.
- Penn State has won each of the last two games in the series, capturing the season sweep a year ago. This is the lone meeting between the teams in 2015-16.
- Three Nittany Lions are averaging in double-figures in scoring: Brandon Taylor (16.2 ppg), Shep Garner (14.3) and Payton Banks (10.9) with Garner also leading in assists (2.7) and steals (1.3), and Taylor controlling the boards (6.4).
- Brandon Taylor become the 32nd Penn State player to pass the 1,000-point mark with this 18 points vs. Michigan Saturday. He now has 1,012 over his four-year career and is ranked No. 31 all-time.
PROMO PLANS
2016 CALENDAR GIVEAWAY: The Penn State men's basketball 2016 calendar will be given out to all fans Tuesday night, while supplies last.
TWENTY YEARS OF THE BJC: The 2015-16 season marks the 20th in the Bryce Jordan Center, a birthday which will be celebrated Tuesday vs. the Gophers. The Nittany Lions opened the arena against Minnesota, earning a 76-61 win Jan. 11, 1996. Penn State has a 197-124 record in the BJC after being away for 31 days, since a 81-70 win over Eastern Michigan Dec. 5.
In honor of the 20th season, all concessions (except for third-party vendors) will be 20 percent off Tuesday night.
FACULTY & STAFF NIGHT, presented by Penn State Hershey Media Group: Fans who present a Valid Penn State Faculty/Staff ID at the door will receive admission for 33% off the standard price ($12 or $16, depending upon location)
GAMEDAY INFO
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The Gophers enter Tuesday's matchup also looking for their first victory in Big Ten play. They are coming off a 69-61 loss to Michigan State at home after opening with a loss to the Buckeyes. With losses in six of its last seven games, Minnesota is 6-8 on the season.
Joey King and Nate Mason are leading the way for the Gophers, averaging 12.8 and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Carlos Morris and Jordan Murphy are also producing double-figures on the year with Murphy leading the squad in rebounds (8.6 rpg).
| PSU | STAT CATEGORY | MINN | STAT | PSU LEADER | MINN LEADER | ||
| 66.3 | Points Per Game | 71.9 | Points | Brandon Taylor: 16.2 | Joey King: 12.8 | ||
| 66.7 | Opponent Points Per Game | 72.6 | Rebounds | Brandon Taylor: 6.4 | Jordan Murphy: 8.6 | ||
| 41.1 | Field-Goal Percentage | 40.6 | Assists | Shep Garner: 2.7 | Nate Meeson: 4.1 | ||
| 40.6 | Opponent FG Percentage | 43.2 | Blocks | Jordan Dickerson: 2.1 | Bakary Konate: 1.5 | ||
| 5.7 | 3-pointers Per Game | 7.0 | |||||
| 30.0 | 3-point FG Percentage | 33.6 | |||||
| 36.7 | Opponent 3-point FG % | 37.5 | |||||
| 68.9 | Free-Throw Percentage | 71.2 | |||||
| 35.7 | Rebounds Per Game | 36.4 | |||||
| 35.2 | Opponent Rebs Per Game | 39.5 | |||||
| 9.5 | Assists Per Game | 15.5 | |||||
| 10.9 | Turnovers Per Game | 13.7 | |||||
| 5.7 | Steals Per Game | 6.3 | |||||
| 4.9 | Blocks Per Game | 4.9 |
SERIES HISTORY
- Penn State trails in the all-time series vs. Minnesota 12-32, al¬though the Lions have won each of the last two meetings.
- They swept the season series a year ago, defeating Minnesota, 63-58, Jan. 28 in the Bryce Jordan Center and 79-76, March 8 in the Barn.
CURRENT ROSTER VS. MINNESOTA
Seven current members of the Nittany Lion squad have seen action against Minnesota. Brandon Taylor is the leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 7.8 and 4.8, respectively in five career meetings.
| PLAYER | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | SERIES HIGH |
| B. Taylor | 5-2 | 7.8 | 4.8 | 12, at MINN (3/18/15) |
| P. Banks | 1-0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 9, vs MINN (1/28/15) |
| S. Garner | 2-2 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 6, at MINN (3/18/15) |
| D. Foster | 2-0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 8, vs. MINN (1/28/15) |
| J. Dickerson | 5-3 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 6, 2x, last at MINN (3/8/15) |
| J. Moore | 2-0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4, vs MINN (1/28/15) |
| D. Jack | 5-2 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 6, vs MINN (1/28/15) |
LAST TIME VS. THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
MINNEAPOLIS (March 8, 2015) - D.J. Newbill pulled up and calmly swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving him 31 points to lift Penn State to a 79-76 victory over Minnesota in the regular-season finale, completing the season sweep of the Gophers for the first time since 2011.
NOTABLE GAMES IN THE SERIES
March 8, 2015 (PSU, 79-76): D.J. Newbill pulled up and calmly swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving him 31 points to lift Penn State to a 79-76 victory over Minnesota in the regular-season finale.
March 6, 2011 (PSU, 66-63): Penn State used 20-point games and clutch threes from Talor Battle and Jeff Brooks to down Min¬nesota, 66-63, in Minneapolis, the Nittany Lions' first win at Wil¬liams Arena since 2001.
Jan. 11, 1996 (PSU, 76-61): The Lions downed the Gophers to win the inaugural game at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park and during the same week, earned their first Associated Press national ranking in 31 years, at No. 20.
UP NEXT
Penn State remains at home to host No. 5/5 Michigan State at noon Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center. The program will celebrate Coaches vs. Cancer Day with $4 from each ticket benefiting CVC - Penn State, which celebrates its 20th year in 2016.