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Dec. 9, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The event, also featuring a noon matchup between Notre Dame and Villanova, benefits the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which helps support the education of children of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
STORYLINES
- This is the 147th meeting all-time in a series dating back to 1906 between the two programs. Penn State holds a 75-71 advantage, though Pitt has captured each of the last six meetings.
- Penn State is coming off a loss to George Mason Wednesday that ended a four-game win streak. The Panthers defeated Buffalo in their last outing, also Wednesday night.
- Four players are averaging in double figures, led by Garner (14.7). Three freshmen are among the top five scorers.
Penn State has hit 79.2 percent (141-178) of its free throws attempts this season, including a season-high 91.7 percent effort (11-12) against Cincinnati. The season percentage is ranked seventh in Division I and first in the Big Ten.
- With eight blocks last Saturday, Mike Watkins has the most blocks (35) of any player in the Big Ten and the second-most of an Division I player. The eight blocks are the most by a Penn State player since 1999.
SETTING THE SCENE
- Penn State and Pitt meet at a neutral site for the first time in the 110-year old series when they tip off in the inaugural Never Forget Tribute Classic. The game is the second half of a doubleheader with Villanova and Notre Dame.
- The event raises money for the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which provides education assistance for post-secondary study to financially deserving dependents of the people killed or permanently disabled in the terrorist attacks.
SCOUTING PITT
- Pitt is 7-2 on the season coming off a win over Buffalo, 84-79, Wednesday night. Losses have come at the hands of SMU and city rival Duquesne. The Panthers defeated Maryland, 73-59, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
- Michael Young has led Pitt in scoring in each of the past eight contests and enters the weekend tied for 17th in the country in scoring at 22.3 points per game. He also is the leading rebounder with 7.9 boards per game.
SERIES HISTORY
- Penn State has faced Pittsburgh more times than any other opponent (146) in a series dating back to March 5, 1906.
- This is the first neutral-site meeting in the series (70 home, 76 away).
- The Lions hold a 75-71 advantage, though Pitt has captured each of the last six meetings.
THREE MEMORABLE VICTORIES
March 5, 1906: Penn State 30, Western Univ. of Pa. 4
Pittsburgh | But here fortune comes our way and the new and aggressive rival W.U.P. finds the mountain team challenging her on her own doorstep. The great work of our goal tossers rolled up the score which walloped W.U.P. to the tune of 30 to 4. (La Vie yearbook recap)
Feb. 23, 1974: Penn State 66 , Pittsburgh 64
University Park, Pa. | Ron Brown's 32 points, including the game-winner at the buzzer, lifted Penn State past seventh-ranked Pittsburgh and ended the Panthers' 22-game winning streak.
Dec. 6, 2000: Penn State 88, Pittsburgh 74
University Park, Pa. | Joe Crispin scored a career-high 36 points to lead Penn State to a 88-74 victory in the first regular season meeting between the teams since 1982. Crispin hit seven 3-pointers for the Nittany Lions, who kept a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half.
LAST TIME OUT
Marquise Moore scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Otis Livingston added 18 points and George Mason beat Penn State 85-66 on Wednesday.
Jalen Jenkins added 15 points for the Patriots (7-3) who won their sixth straight for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Payton Banks led Penn State (6-4) with 21 points as the Nittany Lions' four-game winning streak was snapped.
Penn State led 38-37 after a wild first half that featured 12 lead changes. But the Raiders took control starting with Livingston's 3-pointer that made it 42-40 early in the second. George Mason led the rest of the way, shot 50 percent and outscored Penn State 44-16 in the paint.
UP NEXT
Penn State will play on the road each of its next two games before closing out the non-conference in the Bryce Jordan Center against Morgan State at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21. Following a week off for finals, the Nittany Lions return to action vs. St. John's in the Madison Square Garden Holiday Hoops Festival at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.