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Nov. 25, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's basketball team travels to Washington to take on George Washington at 4 p.m. Saturday. The game will not be televised; however, there will be a web stream on raisehigh.tv with free live audio from Brian Tripp and Dick Jerardi through GoPSUnow and the Penn State Radio Network.
STORYLINES
- This is the 33rd meeting all-time between the programs, dating back to the 1908 season. The teams have met each of the last three years with a second-consecutive matchup taking place in DC. The current series concludes next season in Happy Valley.
- Penn State has captured eight of the last 11 meetings, but is looking to a avenge a 76-66 loss in the Smith Center last season. [RECAP]
- The Lions are coming off a 72-59 win over Colgate Wednesday, its largest margin of victory so far this season. Veterans led the way with junior captains Payton Banks (20 pts), Terrence Samuel (16) and Shep Garner (10) among the double-digit scorers. Tony Carr added 14 points. [RECAP]
- Four players are averaging in double figures through six games, led by Garner (16.0). Three freshmen are among the top five scorers with a rookie leading the team in scoring in three of six games.
- The Lions are in the homestretch of a program-record tying eight in the month of November.
SCOUTING GW
The Colonials enter Saturday with a 3-2 record and are coming off back-to-back losses to Georgia and the UAB at CBE Classic Hall of Fame last weekend. GW posted three-consecutive wins to open the year, knocking off UMES, Siena and Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Tyler Cavenaugh and Yuta Watanabe are leading the Colonials after five games, averaging 18.8 and 13.4 points per game, respectively. Cavenaugh also is the top rebounder (9.0 rpg) and is tied for the team lead in assists (13/2.6 apg)
The Colonials own a 27-game non-conference home winning streak, dating back nearly four years. The Colonials' last loss to a non-league foe came at the hands of Kansas State on Dec. 8, 2012. Overall, the Colonials are 45-6 at home since 2013-14.
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday marks the 33rd meeting all-time between the programs, dating back to the 1908 season and a 47-4 win for the Nittany Lions in The Armory.
- This is the third-consecutive season the Lions and Colonials have met and the second in a row in Washington. The current series concludes next season in Happy Valley.
- Penn State has captured eight of the last 11 meetings, after renewing the old A10 rivalry in 2014 with the first of a set of home-and-home games. The Lions won the Dec. 14 matchup in the BJC, 64-51, for their eighth-consecutive victory.
- GW holds a 4-10 advantage in D.C., including a 76-66 decision last season.
- In the Nittany Lions' final season in the Atlantic 10 in 1990-91, they went 2-1 with the Colonials, including a 81-75 win in the A10 Championship game at Rec Hall, the first conference championship for Penn State basketball.
- Penn State is 116-79 all-time against teams in the current Atlantic 10 Conference after defeating Duquesne earlier this year. The Lions also will host George Mason coming up on Dec. 7 for the third matchup of the year vs. an A10 program.
LAST TIME VS. THE COLONIALS: DEC. 5, 2015
WASHINGTON (AP) - Shep Garner led Penn State with 22 points but the Nittany Lions fell to George Washington 76-66. Penn State could get no closer than 71-62 in the second half on 3-pointer by Brandon Taylor with 4:09 remaining. The Colonials led by 18 after two Joe McDonald free throws made it 56-38 early in the second half. After trading lead changes over the first six minutes, George Washington took the lead for good at 13-12 on Alex Mitola's 3-pointer with 13:24 left. George Washington hit on 7 of 14 first-half 3-pointers in taking a 40-33 advantage into halftime.
UP NEXT
Penn State will return home for each of its next three games, beginning Tuesday with Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at 7 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State will wear its black and pink throwback uniforms against Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Nov. 29. The uniforms honor the original school colors from 1887. The Nittany Lions are 3-0 in the unis since debuting them in 2014. [MORE INFO]