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February 14, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State plays host to No. 8/9 Ohio State at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, February 15. Tipoff for the contest between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes is set for 8 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear white to support the Nittany Lions.
GAMEDAY
No. 8 Ohio State (22-5, 13-1 Big Ten) at Penn State (18-9, 8-6 Big Ten)
Thursday, February 15
8 p.m. ET
Bryce Jordan Center (15,500)
WATCH: BTN and BTN2Go
Brandon Gaudin (pxp) and Stephen Bardo (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 Nittany Lions' remaining two home games, including Thursday's 8 p.m. contest vs. Ohio State. Visit for more information.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
RECORD: 22-5, 13-1 Big Ten
Coach: Chris Holtmann (First year at Ohio State)
2017-18 Leading Scorer
#33 Keita Bates-Diop, RJr., F - 14.3 ppg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#33 Keita Bates-Diop, RJr., F - 9.0 rpg
2017-18 Assists Leader:
#3 C.J. Jackson, Jr., G - 4.2 apg
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
RECORD: 18-9, 8-6 Big Ten
Coach: Patrick Chambers (Seventh year at Penn State)
2017-18 Leading Scorer:
#10 Tony Carr, So., G - 19.2 ppg
2017-18 Leading Rebounder:
#24 Mike Watkins, RSo. F - 9.5 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 / 6.2 / 2nd ppg/rpg/mpg | Four-straight double-figure scoring games
24 / Mike Watkins / F / R-So. / 12.9 / 9.5 / PS FG% leader | 3rd NCAA D-1 career FG%, #1 Penn State career & season FG%
23 / Josh Reaves / G / Jr. / 10.8 / 4.6 / B1G stls leader | Ranks 29th with 2.73 assist-to-turnover ratio; had career best 9 rebounds vs. Maryland
10 / Tony Carr / G / So. / 19.2 / 4.5 / #2 B1G ppg | 46% 3-point FG% ranks 3rd on PS season list; has 91 career 3FGs
33 / Shep Garner / G / Sr. / 10.2 / 1.9 / 1,459 car pts | T-10 PS all-time scoring list w/team-best 16 at Ill.
OPENING TIP
Penn State's eight Big Ten wins in 2017-18 are its most since it finished 9-9 in 2010-11 most under Coach Patrick Chambers. The previous high in the Chambers' era was seven Big Ten wins in 2015-16.
SERIES VS. OHIO STATE
Penn State and Ohio State have met on 53 previous occasions with the Buckeyes holding a 37-16 overall lead. Each of last two meetings have been won by the visiting team and decided by the final basket.
The Nittany Lions won their first meeting in six tries vs. the Buckeyes, 82-79, at Value City Arena on January 25, 2018. Ohio State won 71-70 at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 28, 2017, in the only meeting between the two teams last season.
Series streak: Penn State, W1
Overall series: Ohio State leads 37-16
at University Park: Ohio State leads 14-8
Big Ten games: Ohio State leads 34-14
QUICK HITS
• Penn State's 18 overall wins are tied for the most under Patrick Chambers, with the 18 wins in the 2014-15 season (18-16). Winning the 18th game of the 2017-18 season on February 11 marks the second-earliest date the Nittany Lions have achieved this total. The 1995-96 team won its 18th game on February 10, 1996.
• With the win at Illinois, Penn State matched its program high three conference road wins (at Iowa, at Ohio State and at Illinois) since joining the Big Ten in 1992-93.
• Penn State is two games over .500 in the Big Ten this late in the season for the first time since 2008-09, when it finished 10-8.
• Senior guard Shep Garner tied Nittany Lion Tom Hovasse (1,459, 1985-89) for the No. 10 spot in Penn State's career top 10 scoring list. Garner now has 1,459 points.
• Garner has 293 career 3-point field goals with only three Nittany Lions in the program with more than 300. The Chester, Pa., native now has 303 career assists for 13th place on that Penn State career list.