| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dec. 2, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's basketball hosts Wright State at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game will be available through BTN Plus.
STORYLINES
- The Nittany Lions look for their fourth-consecutive win when they host Wright State at 5 p.m. Saturday.
- This is the first meeting all-time between Penn State and the Raiders.
- Penn State has won each of its last three games, including a Tuesday night matchup with Georgia Tech, 67-60, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
- Mike Watkins posted his first career double-double Tuesday (12pts/12rbds), which stands as the first double-double by a PSU freshman since Talor Battle in 2008.
- Freshmen led the way in the win over GW (11/26) with Mike Watkins tallying a career-high 20 points and Lamar Stevens and Tony Carr adding 18 and 12, respectively. This followed up a veteran-led victory over Colgate (11/23) last week with junior captains Payton Banks (20 pts), Terrence Samuel (16) and Shep Garner (10) among the double-digit scorers.
- Four players are averaging in double figures through eight games, led by Garner (14.6). Three freshmen are among the top five scorers with a rookie leading the team in scoring in four of eight games.
PROMO PLANS
- Toys for Tots Day - Bring a new, unwrapped toy and receive $5 admission
- Subway Full Court Four Pack Day
- Davis Zemgulis Trading card to the first 2,500 fans
- Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance pregame on the concourse
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE
The Raiders enter Saturday with a 6-2 record following a 81-74 loss on the road at Georgia Southern Wednesday. The setback ended a four-game win streak that included victories over Ohio Dominican, CSU Bakersfield, North Dakota and North Flordia. Wright State also defeated Southern Illinois and Miami (Ohio) to open the year.
Mark Alstork is leading four players in double-figures with 22.4 points per game, while adding 4.0 assists per game. Nearly 40 percent of the team's total offense is generated through Alstork via field goals made or assists. Steven Davis (15.5), Grant Benzinger (14.9) and Justin Mitchell (10.4) are also scoring in double-figures for a WSU squad averaging 82.6 points per game.
CONNECTIONS
Sharif Chambliss, a first-year assistant coach for Wright State, played three seasons at Penn State in 2001-03 before transferring to play his senior season at Wisconsin. Chambliss was a two-year starter for Penn State and averaged a team-leading 14.7 points per game as a junior in 2002-03. He also led the Big Ten that season with a 90.1 free throw mark (64-71).
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between the programs and the first for Patrick Chambers against the Raiders.
LAST TIME OUT
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Nov. 29, 2016) - Shep Garner scored 17 points and Mike Watkins added 12 and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Penn State to a 67-60 win over Georgia Tech in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game on Tuesday.
The Nittany Lions (5-3) won their third straight after leading the Yellow Jackets for 20:57 including most of the second half.
Quinton Stephens led Georgia Tech (4-2) with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Josh Okogie also scored 13.
The teams spent more than six minutes tied and swapped the lead seven times in the first half before Penn State took control with a 7-0 run.
UP NEXT
Penn State will remain at home, hosting George Mason at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Patriots are 5-3 on the season with a matchup against Mercer slated for Saturday afternoon.