UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's basketball team (12-5, 2-4) welcomes No. 21 Ohio State (12-5, 2-4) for a noon ET game on Saturday, Jan. 18 in the Bryce Jordan Center. Mike Couzens and Sean Farnham will have the call for ESPNU.
Saturday's game is the annual THON game with all proceeds from $5 single-game student tickets supporting the THON organization of the student's choice.
Following the men's basketball game, Penn State student-athletes from the Student Athletics Advisory Board will play games, sign autographs and spend the afternoon with Four Diamonds families.
SPONSOR:
Today's game sponsor is the Penn State Bookstore.
PROMOTIONS:
For every single-game student ticket sold, the entire $5 amount will be donated to the THON organization of the student's choice.
The first 1,000 students receive Penn State Basketball "Dance On" T-shirts.
Halftime performance by the Firecrackers Jump Rope Teams
Post-game autograph session with John Harrar and Jamari Wheeler
Great to be in State College for tomorrow's game with @SeanFarnham. Penn State hosting Ohio State in PSU's annual @THON game. Looking like it could be a sellout for a noon tipoff on ESPNU against Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/KCAVbOpdfr
— Mike Couzens (@MikeCouzens) January 17, 2020
TICKETS:
Purchase single-game tickets or a Mobile Flex Plan to attend upcoming Penn State home games at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Bryce Jordan Center Athletics Ticket Office opens two hours prior to tipoff on game days.
DIGITAL PROGRAM
WATCH: ESPNU, ESPN app & watchespn.com
Mike Couzens (pxp) & Sean Farnham (analyst)
LISTEN: Penn State Sports Network
Steve Jones (pxp) & Dick Jerardi (analyst)
Affiliates: GoPSUsports.com/affiliates1920
Listen online: GoPSUsports.com/lionvision
SiriusXM | XM 81 | XM 81 | Internet 81
LIVE STATS: Ohio State at Penn State
SOCIAL: Twitter @PennStateMBB | Facebook | Instagram @PennStateMBB
ROSTER: Penn State | Ohio State
SCHEDULE: Penn State | Ohio State
STATS: Penn State | Ohio State
GAME NOTES: Penn State | Ohio State
MEDIA GUIDE: Penn State | Ohio State
OHIO STATE
Coach: Chris Holtmann (Taylor, 1994)
Record at Ohio State: 57-29 (Third season)
Career Record: 171-114 (Ninth season)
2019-20 Record: 12-5, 2-4 Big Ten
Top Scorer
#34 Kaleb Wesson, Jr., F – 14.4 ppg
Top Rebounder
#34 Kaleb Wesson, Jr., F – 9.6 rpg
Top Assists Leader
#13 CJ Walker, R-Jr., G – 2.2 apg
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Coach: Patrick Chambers (Philadelphia, 1994)
Penn State Record: 139-145 (Ninth season)
Career Record: 181-173 (11th season)
2019-20 Record: 12-5, 2-4 Big Ten
Top Scorer
#11 Lamar Stevens, Sr., F – 16.1 ppg
Top Rebounder
#24 Mike Watkins, Sr., F – 8.3 rpg
Top Assists Leaders
#0 Myreon Jones, So., G – 3.1 apg
#5 Jamari Wheeler, Jr., G – 3.1 apg
STARTING 5
Saturday's game is designated as the annual Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) game with all proceeds from $5 single-game student tickets benefitting the THON organization of the student's choice.
The year-long efforts of THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, culminate in an annual 46-hour dance marathon Feb. 21-23 in the BJC. THON has raised more than $168 million dollars and helped more than 4,000 families since 1973.
Penn State lost a rare game, only the second in the last three seasons, when it held an opponent to a field goal percentage of less than 40 percent as Minnesota shot 38.3 percent.
PSU also lost its first game of the season when it had fewer turnovers than its opponent (10-1) with a single-game season low six miscues.
Lamar Stevens was named one of 30 candidates for the 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award for notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Ten finalists will be announced in February.
SERIES VS. OHIO STATE
Five of the last seven games have been decided by four points or less. The two other games were 20+ point routs by the home team.
Series streak: Ohio State, W2
Overall series: Ohio State leads 39-18 (A: 14-9)
Last game: at Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State 106, Penn State 74, 12/7/2019
Chambers vs. Ohio State: 5-9
Date -- Location -- Result
3/10/2016 -- BTT-Indianapolis -- L, 75-79
2/28/17 -- University Park, Pa. -- L, 70-71
1/25/2018 -- Columbus, Ohio -- W, 82-79
2/15/2018 -- University Park, Pa. -- W, 76-53
3/2/2018 -- BTT-New York City (MSG) -- W, 69-68
2/7/2019 -- Columbus, Ohio -- L , 70-74
12/7/2019 -- Columbus, Ohio -- L, 74-106
LAST TIME OUT: LIONS EDGED 75-69 IN TOUGH ROAD BATTLE AT MINNESOTA
Penn State battled Minnesota, but lost a tough Big Ten road game 75-69. Three Nittany Lions scored in double figures with Seth Lundy and Myreon Jones each with 15 points and Lamar Stevens 14. Lundy's 15 points in his first career start were a career high.
Golden Gophers Marcus Carr (27) and Daniel Oturu (26) combined for 53 points. Oturu had 14 rebounds for a double-double.
The second half bore little resemblance to the first. The Nittany Lions shot 60 percent in the first with 18 field goals and zero turnovers for a two-point lead, 46-44 at the half. Neither team shot well in the second with Minnesota at 32.3 percent and Penn State at 24.1.
Penn State scored on its first five possessions after the half to go up 56-48. Minnesota chipped away at the lead, getting second-chance points and converting free throws. Oturu tied the game at 59 at 10:50 and then Alihan Demir's layup gave the Golden Gophers their first lead, 61-59, since the 7:08 mark of the first half.
The Nittany Lion offense struggled with an 11-minute stretch without a field goal, with three points off free throws. Penn State remained without a basket until Myreon Jones scored at the 5:28 mark. Despite the scoring woes, PSU was down only three, 64-61.
Oturu scored the next seven points for Minnesota to extend the lead to 71-64 with 1:52 remaining and the Gophers went back up by 10 before Izaiah Brockington made two free throws and Curtis Jones Jr. knocked in a 3-pointer to bring the score to 74-69 with 17 seconds left. The Nittany Lion defense locked in to gain additional offensive possessions, but an Oturu free throw gave UM the 75-69 final.
Minnesota had a 22-11 advantage on the boards at the break and dominated on the boards in the second half for a 48-32 tally. Penn State had a season-low six turnovers and had 19 points from Brockington, Curtis Jones Jr., and Mike Watkins off the bench.