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January 26, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's basketball team returns to the Bryce Jordan Center for a 4 p.m. game on Saturday, January 27 vs. Rutgers. The Nittany Lion men's basketball program has partnered with THON for this annual game and the entire $5 amount from each student ticket sold goes directly to THON.
GAMEDAY
Rutgers (12-10, 2-7 Big Ten) at Penn State (14-8, 4-5 Big Ten)
Saturday, January 27
4 p.m. ET
Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)
Gates open at 2:30 p.m. for this game.
WATCH: BTN and BTN2Go
Brandon Gaudin (pxp) and Shon Morris (analyst)
LISTEN: Penn State Sports Network, Steve Jones (pxp) and Dick Jerardi (analyst)
2017-18 Affiliates and free online at GoPSUsports.com/lionvision
Sirius XM: Sirius 135 | XM 195 | Internet 957
LIVE STATS:
FOLLOW: Twitter @PennStateMBB & @Coach_Chambers | Facebook | Instagram
TICKETS:
Tickets are available for the annual THON game on Saturday, January 27 with a 4 p.m. tipoff time against Rutgers. Doors will open to the public 90 minutes beforehand. Visit gopsusports.com/tickets/m-baskbl-tickets.html for more information. Visit for more information.
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
RECORD: 12-10, 2-7 Big Ten
Coach: Steve Pikiell (Second year at Ohio State)
2017-18 Leading Scorer
#3 Corey Sanders, Jr., G - 14.2 ppg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#33 Deshawn Freeman, So., F - 7.5 rpg
2017-18 Assists Leader:
#3 Corey Sanders, Jr., G - 3.3 apg
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
RECORD: 14-8, 4-5 Big Ten
Coach: Patrick Chambers (Seventh year at Penn State)
2017-18 Leading Scorer:
#10 Tony Carr, So., G - 19.4 ppg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#24 Mike Watkins, RSo. F - 9.7 rpg
2017-18 Assists Leader:
#10 Tony Carr, So., G - 4.9 apg
NITTANY LION LAST GAME STARTERS
# / Name / Pos. / ELG. / Pts / REB / STAT / NOTES
11 / Lamar Stevens / F / So. / 15.5 / 6.5 / 2nd ppg/rpg/mpg | 12th-consec gm w/10+pts w/15 at OSU, 6 rebs
24 / Mike Watkins / F / R-So. / 13.0 / 9.7 / PS FG% leader | January avgs: 14.3 pts/12.1 reb, 75 FG% (39-52)
1 / Deivis Zemgulis / G / Jr. / 1.5 / 1.0 / 1st career start | Back-to-back FGs give PS dble-digit lead at OSU
10 / Tony Carr / G / So. / 19.4 / 4.5 / ppg 2nd in B1G | Banks game-winner, game-high 28 points, 20 in 2H
33 / Shep Garner / G / Sr. / 10.6 / 1.9 / 280 career 3s | 4 triples at OSU, B1G leader w/64 in 2017-18
OPENING TIP
Saturday's annual THON game invites students from all Penn State campuses to attend with the entire $5 amount from each student ticket sold going directly to THON.
THON families are invited to a post-game festival with the Penn State basketball team, members of the Penn State Student-Athlete Advisory Board, the Penn State dance and cheer teams and The Nittany Lion in the BJC practice facility.
QUICK HITS
- The Nittany Lions broke their previous record for 3-point field goal percentage (min 10 attempts) of 76.5 (13-17 at Iowa, 2/3/1996) by going 11-14 for 78.6 percent against the Buckeyes.
That single-game percentage is the second-highest in the NCAA this season behind Evansville (12-15 3FG vs. Bowling Green).
- Penn State picked up its second Big Ten road victory of the season at Ohio State, the first time it has two B1G wins before January 31st since the 2007-08 season.
- The Nittany Lions recorded their highest field goal percentage of the season at Ohio State at 58.3 for their ninth game with a FG percentage of 50% or higher.
- With the win over the No. 13 Buckeyes, the Nittany Lions defeated a ranked opponent on the road for the first time since January 29, 2014 (at Ohio State) and highest ranked opponent on the road since No. 9 Michigan State on Feb. 1, 2009.
Coach Patrick Chambers now has nine career victories over ranked opponents.
SERIES RECORD VS. RUTGERS
Penn State has played more games against Rutgers each other than any other team in the Big Ten, however, the two programs have met only five times as Big Ten opponents.
Rutgers won 70-68 at the Bryce Jordan Center in the second of two meetings between the Scarlet Knights and Nittany Lions in 2016-17. Prior to the December 2, 2017 win at Iowa, Penn State picked up its earliest conference win at Rutgers on January 1, 2017.
Overall series: Penn State leads 40-31
at University Park: Penn State leads 25-9
Big Ten games: Penn State leads 3-2
SUITS AND SNEAKERS WEEK JANUARY 22-28, 2018
Thousands of basketball coaches across the country will trade their dress shoes for sneakers to wear with their suits on gameday this week during the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week through January 28.
This event unites basketball coaches for a common cause - saving lives from cancer. Coaches and their staff across the nation wear sneakers with their suits during games to raise awareness and help save lives from cancer by raising funds and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening and early detection.
Fans can also be part of the action by participating in a nationwide online auction featuring sneakers and ties signed by coaches. As an additional special promotion during Suits And Sneakers Week, and continuing through the end of the college basketball season, fans will have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive Coaches vs. Cancer tie, designed by Vineyard Vines.