December 29, 2017
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's basketball team ends its three-game homestand and plays its final nonconference game of the year vs. Coppin State Saturday, December 30. Tipoff time is 1 p.m.
GAMEDAY
Coppin State (0-14, 0-0 MEAC) at Penn State (10-4, 1-1 Big Ten)
Saturday, December 30
1 p.m. ET
Bryce Jordan Arena (15,261)
WATCH: BTN+ and BTN2Go
LISTEN: Penn State Sports Network, Brian Tripp (pxp) and Dick Jerardi (analyst)
2017-18 Affiliates and free online at GoPSUsports.com/lionvisionSirius XM: Sirius 83 | XM 83 | Internet 83
FOLLOW: Twitter @PennStateMBB & @Coach_Chambers | Facebook | Instagram @PennStateMBB.
TICKETS:
Tickets are available for all Penn State home games, including Saturday's final nonconference game vs. Coppin State and the upcoming slate of eight Big Ten home games. Visit for more information.
COPPIN STATE EAGLES
RECORD: 0-14, 0-0 MEAC
Coach: Juan Dixon
(First year at Coppin State)
2017-18 Leading Active Scorer:
#10 Karonn Davis, Gr., G - 9.6
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#00 Adam Traore, Jr., F - 6.1
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
RECORD: 10-4, 1-1 Big Ten
Coach: Patrick Chambers
(7th year at Penn State)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
2017-18 Leading Scorer:
#10 Tony Carr, So., G - 18.8 ppg / 4.6 apg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#24 Mike Watkins, RSo. F - 8.6 rpg
NITTANY LION PROBABLE STARTERS
# / Name / Pos. / ELG. / Pts / REB / STAT / NOTES
11 / Lamar Stevens / F / So. / 14.3 / 7.3 / 2nd ppg/rpg | 2nd dbl-dbl 10pts/11 reb, car-high 6a vs. Rider
24 / Mike Watkins / F / R-So. 12.5 8.6 46 blks | 6-straight games with 10+ points scored
10 / Tony Carr / G / So. / 18.8 / 4.9 ppg / 2nd in B1G | 37th career game with 10+ points vs. Rider
23 / Josh Reaves / G / Jr. / 11.1 / 4.5 / B1G steals leader | Nationally ranked for steals & A:T ratio (3.21)
33 / Shep Garner / G / Sr. / 11.4 / 1.9 / 259 career 3s | Season-hi 6 FG vs. Rider, 11-18 3FG last 2 gms
OPENING TIP
Penn State has reached double-digit wins by the calendar year end for the second time under coach Patrick Chambers and only the third time since 1997-98.
Season Wins
2017-18... 10
2014-15... 12
2008-09... 12
COPPIN STATE SERIES RECORD
Penn State and Coppin State have met only one time previously with the Nittany Lions winning the December 28, 2001, meeting in the Golden Bear Classic at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif., 66-49. This is coach Patrick Chambers' first-ever game against Coppin State.
Here are the details of the series:
Series: PS leads 1-0
at University Park: first game
at BJC: first game
at neutral sites: PS leads 1-0
Meeting vs. Eagles
12/28/2001... N... PS 66... CS 59... W
MARGINS OF EXCELLENCE
In the Patrick Chambers era, steady progress has been made in increasing the Nittany Lions' scoring and rebounding averages. In the most recent NCAA statistical rankings, Penn State enjoys its highest ranking in scoring margin at this point of the season at 61st for its +12.0 scoring margin.
On the rebounding side, the Nittany Lions are ranked 91st with a +4.3 margin, its second-highest ranking since the 2011-12 season.
SWAT-KINS
With his second of four blocks against Rider, Mike Watkins moved into the No. 3 spot on Penn State's career list. The Philadelphia, Pa., native, who contributed 90 blocked shots to Penn State's record team total of 182 in 2016-17, now has 136 for his career. He is second among the NCAA active career leaders with 2.93 per game.
B1G STEALS LEADER
Penn State continues to rank as the Big Ten's top team in steals, now with 131 and 16 more than the second-place team, Illinois (115-14 games).
B1G STEALS LEADER, PART II
Junior guard Josh Reaves, who led the Big Ten in total steals last season with 60, stands at the top of the list again in 2017-18 with 32.
DOUBLING UP, AGAIN
Josh Reaves (10 pts, 13 rebounds) and Lamar Stevens (10 pts, 11 reb) recorded the latest instance of two Nittany Lions with double-doubles in the same game vs. Rider (12/22). Stevens and Watkins teamed up for the feat at George Mason (12/17). Penn State now has had 33 instances of two players recording double-doubles in the same game.
ALUMNI WEEKEND FESTIVITIES PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY 2-4, 2018
The Penn State men's basketball program will celebrate alumni weekend Friday-Saturday, February 2-4, 2018. Mitch Stover, who has served as the equipment manager for the Nittany Lion basketball program for 23 years, has been selected as the honorary captain for the Penn State-Iowa game on February 3. Stover is planning on retiring at the end of the 2017-18 season.
All former Penn State men's basketball student-athletes and their families are invited back to campus for this fun-filled weekend. For more information or to register, contact Wendy Miller at 814-865-5494.