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January 11, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State men's basketball team returns home for two straight games in the Bryce Jordan Center. Tipoff for the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
GAMEDAY
Nebraska (12-6, 3-2 Big Ten) at Penn State (12-6, 2-3 Big Ten)
Friday, January 12
7 p.m. ET
Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)
WATCH: BTN and BTN2Go
Brandon Gaudin (pxp) and Jon Crispin (analyst)
LISTEN: Penn State Sports Network, Steve Jones (pxp) and Dick Jerardi (analyst)
2017-18 Affiliates and free online at GoPSUsports.com/lionvision
FOLLOW: Twitter @PennStateMBB & @Coach_Chambers | Facebook | Instagram
TICKETS:
Tickets are available for Penn State's remaining seven Big Ten home games, including Friday's Coaches vs. Cancer game against Nebraska. Four dollars from every public ticket sold will go to the Penn State Chapter of Coaches Vs. Cancer. Visit for more information.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
RECORD: 12-6, 3-2 Big Ten
Coach: Tim Miles (Sixth year at Nebraska)
2017-18 Leading Scorer
#24 James Palmer, Jr., Jr. G - 15.8 ppg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#14 Isaac Copeland, Jr., F - 6.4 rpg
2017-18 Assists Leader:
#5 Glynn Watson Jr., Jr., G - 3.0 apg
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
RECORD: 12-5, 2-2 Big Ten
Coach: Patrick Chambers (Seventh year at Penn State)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
2017-18 Leading Scorer:
#10 Tony Carr, So., G - 18.9 ppg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#24 Mike Watkins, RSo. F - 9.6 rpg
2017-18 Assists Leader:
#10 Tony Carr, So., G - 4.7 apg
NITTANY LION LAST GAME STARTERS
# / Name / Pos. / ELG. / Pts / REB / STAT / NOTES
11 / Lamar Stevens / F / So. / 15.3 / 6.7 / 2nd ppg/rpg | Back-to-back gms w/20+pts, 30 vs. NU, 20 at IU
24 / Mike Watkins / F / R-So. / 12.8 / 9.6 / 55 blks | 15th car dbl-dbl 12pts/10 reb, 3rd straight dbl-dbl
4 / Nazeer Bostick / G / So. / 5.3 / 2.4 / 3 career starts | Played B1G-best 25 min at IU, tied car best 5 pts
10 / Tony Carr / G / So. / 18.9 / 4.6 / ppg 2nd in B1G | 40th career gm with 10+ pts vs. Northwestern / 5.8 apg in B1G
33 / Shep Garner / G / Sr. / 10.0 / 1.9 / 265 career 3s | 49.1 3FG pct. in month of December (26-53)
OPENING TIP
Friday's game vs. the Cornhuskers has been designated as the Coaches Vs. Cancer game. The Penn State Chapter of Coaches Vs. Cancer has raised $2.8 million in its 22-year existence.
For every public ticket sold for the Nebraska game, $4 will go to the Penn State Chapter of Coaches Vs. Cancer.
QUICK HITS
• Sophomore forward Lamar Stevens had his first career back-to-back games with 20 or more points with 30 last Friday against Northwestern and 20 at Indiana.
• The tandem of Stevens and Tony Carr has accounted for the last four instances of two Nittany Lions scoring 20 points or more in the same game, most recently with Carr's 28 and Stevens' 20 vs. the Hoosiers.
• Penn State has lost its three conference games this season by a combined 11 points.
• The latest kenpom.com rankings (1/11) place Penn State 44th overall with a No. 16 rating for adjusted defense.
• Senior guard Shep Garner needs four steals to move into the Nittany Lions' career steals top 10. Garner has 132 and Jarrett Stephens (1996-2000) has 136 for the No. 10 spot.
• At 99-115, Coach Patrick Chambers is one win away from reaching the 100-win mark at Penn State.
SERIES VS. NEBRASKA
The home team has won the last seven meetings between Nebraska and Penn State with the Nittany Lions holding a 5-1 lead in meetings at University Park and 4-1 advantage in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten for the 2011-2012 season, the Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers have each won six games in the series.
Overall series: Penn State leads 8-7
at Bryce Jordan Center: 4-1
at University Park: Penn State leads 5-1
at neutral sites: Penn State leads 2-0
Big Ten games: Series tied 6-6
FOUR & LOOKING FOR MORE
Sophomores Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens did it again. For the fourth time, the pair teamed up for 20-plus point efforts in a single game. Against Indiana, Stevens tallied 20 points and Carr finished the Indiana game with 28. The tandem had 20-plus point efforts against 16th-ranked Texas A&M (11/21) with Carr's 31 and Stevens' 25.
They accomplished this feat twice as freshmen, the first time against Duquesne (11/13/16) and again in the three-overtime game at Indiana (2/1/2017). With their 20-plus points in November 2016, it marked the first time since March 15, 1989 that two Penn State freshmen posted 20 or more points in the same game (Freddie Barnes-24 & Monroe Brown - 32 vs. Murray State in the opening round of the NIT).
STAYING ON TOP
Mike Watkins not only set the Penn State freshman mark for rebounds, he also claimed the top spot for career field goal percentage at 59.0 percent following his rookie campaign. In the three January games so far, Watkins went 17-21 from the field for an 81.0 field goal percentage which moved him to 62.8 (218-347) for his career.
Watkins has the top spot for the Nittany Lions, but is not yet ranked among the NCAA active career leaders as the minimum to be included in this category is 240 made field goals.
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 is ranked 41st for scoring margin at +12.1. Its highest ranking was last month when the Nittany Lions were 35th with a +14.2. scoring margin.
On the rebounding side, the Nittany Lions are ranked 70th with a +4.7 margin.
PENN STATE CHAPTER OF COACHES VS. CANCER
Since the inception of the Penn State Chapter of Coaches vs. Cancer, more than $2.8 has been raised through various events and activities, including nearly $175,000 in calendar year 2017 alone. Funds are raised for cancer research and awareness through the American Cancer Society and four dollars from the sale of every public ticket for Friday's game vs. Nebraska will go to the Penn State Chapter of Coaches Vs. Cancer
"Through the unbelievable efforts of Coaches vs. Cancer to raise funds for cancer research, awareness and education, a difference is being made in lives every day," said Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers. "I'm humbled to be a part of this organization and help in the fight against cancer in our community."
In 2017 in Centre County, the American Cancer Society provided 91 patients with 671 services including information and guidance on cancer. Also in 2017, 26 patients in Centre County were provided with free lodging at Hope's Lodge and assist families by saving them more than $68,000. More than 150 rides were provided to patients for treatment through the Road to Recovery.