Feb. 13, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State travels to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the lone regular-season matchup with Nebraska at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Shon Morris on the call.
STORYLINES
- The Nittany Lions have won each of their last two games, knocking off No. 21 Maryland (2/7) and completing series sweep at Illinois (2/11). They have wins in three of the last five games and six total league wins, the most through 13 games since the 2010-11 season (6-7).
- Penn State has won three of the last four meetings with Nebraska but is 0-4 when playing in Lincoln as Big Ten foes. The Lions' last win against the Huskers on the road was in the 1995 NIT, a 65-59 win March 21.
- The Nittany Lions are 17-15 all-time when playing on Valentine's Day and 3-4 since entering the Big Ten. The last four Feb. 14 games have been decided by a total of 12 points.
- Lamar Stevens earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after averaging 23.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg over back-to-back wins last week. It is the third rookie recognition for the Nittany Lions this season.
- Four players are averaging in double figures for Penn State, led by freshmen Tony Carr (12.5) and Lamar Stevens (12.3). Three freshmen are among the top five scorers and are each of top-three rebounders. Stevens is averaging 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game over the last four games.
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Nittany Lions are 17-15 all-time when playing on Valentine's Day and 3-4 since entering the Big Ten.
- The last four V-Day games have been decided by a total of 12 points: 2015 vs. Maryland (L, 76-73), 2013 vs. Iowa (L, 74-72); 2009 vs. Minnesota (W, 68-63), 2007 vs. Ohio State (L, 64-62).
- The Nittany Lions have six wins through their first 13 games of Big Ten play, the most since 2010-11 (6-7).
- With a win, Penn State would match the most Big Ten wins (7) under Patrick Chambers and reach at least seven Big Ten wins in back-to-back seasons for just the third time in 25 seasons (1994-95, 1996-97 and 2007-08, 2008-09). The Lions have posted seven or more league wins just eight times since joining the Big Ten.
- The Lions will be playing an opponent for the first time this season in three of the last five games. (at Nebraska, vs. Ohio State, at Iowa).
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
- Nebraska enters Tuesday with a 10-14 overall record and 4-8 mark in the Big Ten, dropping eight of its last nine games. The lone win in the span was vs. then-No. 20 Purdue adding to early wins over Maryland, Indiana and Iowa. The Huskers are the only Big Ten team to beat both Maryland and Purdue so far this season.
- Nebraska has had the toughest schedule in DI according to ESPN, taking on 15 teams in the Top 100 RPI. The Huskers are coming off a one-point overtime loss to No. 7 Wisconsin, 70-69, Thursday.
- Tai Webster leads Nebraska with 18.0 points per game and has scored in double-figures in every game this season.
SERIES HISTORY
- The series is even 5-5 since since Nebraska joined the Big Ten with the Nittany Lions leading 7-6 all time.
- Penn State has won three of the last four meetings but is 0-4 when playing in Lincoln as Big Ten foes. The Lions' last win on the road in the 1995 NIT, a 65-59 win March 21, 1995.
- Five of the last eight meetings in the series have been decided by six points or fewer with just a one-point separation in the last matchup, a 56-55 PSU win.
CURRENT ROSTER VS. NEBRASKA
Six players have seen action against Nebraska, led by Shep Garner's 14.0 ppg over four career meetings. Among current players, he has a series-high 22 points from the Lions' 56-55 win last season.
Player | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | SERIES HIGH |
S. Garner | 4-4 | 14.0 | 3.5 | 22, vs NEB (2/25/16) |
I. Washington | 2-0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5, 2x, last vs NEB (2/25/16) |
P. Banks | 3-2 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 6, at NEB (2/13/16) |
J. Reaves | 2-1 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 6, at NEB (2/13/16) |
J. Moore | 3-1 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2, 3x, last at NEB (2/13/16) |
D. Zemgulis | 1-0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2, at NEB (2/13/16) |
LAST TIME AGAINST THE HUSKERS
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Feb. 25, 2016) - Shep Garner scored 22 points, made five 3-pointers and hit a go-ahead free throw in the final seconds and Penn State hung on to beat Nebraska 56-55. Brandon Taylor added 19 points with five 3-pointers for the Nittany Lions (15-13, 6-9 Big Ten) who won their third-straight game.
Shavon Shields scored 25 points for the Cornhuskers (14-15, 6-10) who lost their third straight and seventh in their last nine. Penn State led by 18 with 14:16 to play but the Cornhuskers cut that lead to six twice and to two with 2:46 left. Garner put Penn State ahead for good when he drew a foul on a late drive and made one of two free throws. Shields missed a jumper at the buzzer to seal Penn State's win.
OTHER MEMORABLE MATCHUPS
March 11, 2015 (PSU, 68-65) - D.J. Newbill scored 26 points, Shep Garner added 19 as 13th-seeded Penn State won its Big Ten tournament opener to advance for the first time since a run to the final in 2011. Penn State also blocked a tournament-record 16 shots.
Jan. 23, 2014 (PSU, 58-54): Led by D.J. Newbill's 16 points, four Penn State players posted double-figure scoring efforts as the Lions snapped a six-game losing streak with a 58-54 win over Nebraska at the Bryce Jordan Center.
March 21, 1995 (PSU, 65-59): The Nittany Lions used Rahsaan Carlton's 19 points to top Nebraska 65-59 in the NIT Second Round in Lincoln, Neb. The teams were tied at 36 at halftime, but three Lion players put up double-digits for the win. Penn State went on to finish third in the NIT that year, its second of four trips to Madison Square Garden.
LOOKING AHEAD
Penn State has its Big Ten bye weekend and will participate in the University's annual THON dance marathon. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and is committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. It has raised over $136 million for cancer care and research since 1977.
The Nittany Lions return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 against Purdue in the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State has defeated each of the last four ranked teams to take the court in the BJC.