Jan. 27, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's basketball team returns to the Bryce Jordan Center for three of its next four games, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Illinois.
PROMO PLANS [Promo Schedule]
- CVC Day - $4 of every public sale single-game ticket goes directly to the Penn State chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer. More info: CVCPennState.org
- Alumni Day: Approximately 50 alumni are expected to return to Happy Valley for the annual Alumni Weekend. There will be a special recognition for the 1996 NCAA Tournament team, as well as honorary captains and 1966-67 team members Joe McGovern and Bob "Hop" Hopkins.
- Subway Full Court Four Pack: Fans can once again eat fresh with Penn State Basketball through the Subway Full Court Four Pack, where they can enjoy four subs, four drinks, and four game tickets for just $40. Fans can purchase the package by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by purchasing in person at the Bryce Jordan Center Box office.
- Satchel Pierce Trading card to the first 2,500 fans
STORYLINES
- Saturday marks both Coaches vs. Cancer Day and Alumni Day for the Nittany Lion program.
- The Nittany Lions are coming off a Tuesday loss at No. 15 Wisconsin and have lost each of their last three games. Illinois ended its own three-game losing streak with a win over Iowa Wednesday in Champaign.
- Games played Tuesday vs. Wisconsin and Saturday vs. Illinois are part of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week. The annual event raises awareness about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing cancer risk. Penn State also will wear gold laces in each game.
- Penn State leads the Big Ten, overall and in league play, in forced turnovers. PSU opponents average 15.2 turnovers on the season and 14.4 since the start of Big Ten play.
- Four players are averaging in double figures for Penn State this season, led by junior captains Shep Garner (12.1 ppg) and Payton Banks (11.7). Three freshmen are among the top five scorers and are each of top three rebounders. Tony Carr is the team's leading scorer in Big Ten action with 11.6 ppg.
SETTING THE SCENE
- More than 4,000 basketball coaches will forego their dress shoes in favor of sneakers to go with their suits during the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Awareness Week, January 23-29. The event raises awareness about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing cancer risk.
- It also is Coaches vs. Cancer Day for the Penn State chapter, celebrating 21 years in 2017. It is one of the top grossing school chapter in the nation, passing the $2.5 million raised mark.
- The Nittany Lion coaches and staff also will be wearing gold laces through Princess Lacey's Laces, in memory of 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, who passed away in 2014 after a two-year battle with Stage IV Neuroblastoma cancer. She was an avid Michigan State basketball fan and captured hearts around the Big Ten and across the country.
- Nearly 50 Penn State basketball alumni are expected back this weekend for Alumni Weekend festivities.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
- The Illini snapped a three-game losing streak with a 76-64 win over Iowa Wednesday night in Champaign. They are 13-8 on the season and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Ilinois is 0-4 in true road games on the year.
- Malcolm Hill averages 17.4 ppg overall and 15.9 in Big Ten play. He has nine outings of 20+ points and two 30-plus point performances on the season.
- Freshman point guard Te'Jon Lucas made his first career start in the win over the Gophers, finishing with six points and six assists. Michael Finke scored 17 points off the bench and led Illinois
SERIES HISTORY
- Illinois holds a 28-14 advantage in the all-time series and an 11-8 advantage in University Park. Penn State has won three of the last four matchups in the BJC, including last season.
- Eleven of the last 15 meetings between the teams have been decided by five or fewer points.
- The season series concludes Feb. 11 in Champaign.
CURRENT ROSTER VS. ILLINOIS
Five current players have taken on the Illini, led by Shep Garner's 18.0 ppg through two career meetings. He had 22 in the overtime win last season, which also had Josh Reaves tallying a then-career high 13 points.
Player | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | SERIES HIGH |
S. Garner | 2-2 | 18 | 3.5 | 22, vs ILL (3/6/16) |
J. Reaves | 1-1 | 13 | 7 | 13, vs ILL (3/6/16) |
J. Moore | 2-0 | 5 | 2 | 10, at ILL (1/31/15) |
P. Banks | 2-1 | 4 | 1 | 8, vs ILL (3/6/16) |
I. Washington | 1-0 | 6 | 4 | 6, vs ILL (3/6/16) |
LAST TIME AGAINST THE ILLINI
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (March 6, 2016) - Shep Garner scored 22 points and Penn State hung on through two overtime periods to beat Illinois 86-79. Brandon Taylor added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Nittany Lions, who secured a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament for the first time in program history. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and marked Penn State's most conference wins under head coach Patrick Chambers.
Malcolm Hill scored 24 of his 39 points in the second half and added 13 rebounds for the Fighting Illini (13-18, 5-13), who faced a 10-point deficit with just over 12 minutes to play. Khalid Lewis added 10 points for the Illini who outscored Penn State 22-12 over the final 8:49 of regulation. But Penn State mounted a 19-9 run that included 9-of-10 shooting from the line to close out the game.
OTHER MEMORABLE MATCHUPS
Jan. 11, 2011 (PSU, 57-55): Andrew Jones grabbed Talor Battle's last second lay-up attempt in traffic and slammed it home to give Penn State a 57-55 victory over No. 16 ranked Illinois. With the win, Penn State defeated ranked teams in back-to-back games for the second time in program history and the first since 1954.
Feb. 18, 2009 (PSU, 38-33): In a game that may have set the game of basketball back decades, Penn State gutted out a 38-33 win over No. 18 Illinois at Assembly Hall. With 11 points, Talor Battle was the lone player for either team in double-digits.
Feb. 4, 2006 (PSU, 66-65): Travis Parker scored 21 points including the game-winner with 8.5 seconds to play, and Geary Claxton added 20 as Penn State defeated No. 6 Illinois 66-65 in a sold-out Assembly Hall for the biggest road upset in program history.
UP NEXT
Penn State has three of its next four games in the Bryce Jordan Center, beginning Saturday vs. Illinois. Following a mid-week road trip to Indana for a Wednesday tilt, the Lions return home for matchups with Rutgers (Feb. 4) and Maryland (Feb. 7).