Penn State @ Seton Hall
Tipoff: 1 p.m. at Continental Airlines Arena (East Rutherford, N.J.)
Records: Penn State 6-2, Seton Hall 5-1
Coaches: Ed DeChellis is 37-59 in four seasons at Penn State and 142-152 in 11 seasons overall; Bobby Gonzalez is 5-1 in his first season at Seton Hall and 134-78 in eight seasons overall.
Series: Penn State leads, 4-0
TV: FSN Pittsburgh. Dave Sims (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (color).
Radio: Penn State radio network. Steve Jones (play-by-play) and Dick Jerardi (color) will call the game for the Penn State Sports Network.
Last Time Out: Penn State edged Hartford 56-55 Wednesday. Seton Hall whipped Monmouth 83-49 at home Monday.
Next Up: Penn State plays host to Long Island Wednesday.
Lineups:
Penn State
G Ben Luber, 6-0 Jr. (8.6)
G David Jackson, 6-1 Sr. (5.4)
F Geary Claxton, 6-5 Jr. (12.3)
F Jamelle Cornley, 6-5 So. (15.6)
F Brandon Hassell, 6-11 Jr. (7.0)
Seton Hall
G Jamar Nutter, 6-2 Jr. (14.3)
G Brian Laing, 6-5 Jr. (16.3)
G Eugene Harvey, 6-0 Fr. (13.8)
F Stan Gaines, 6-7 Sr. (9.5)
C Grant Billmeier, 6-10 Sr. (5.8)
Notes:
• Quickie Quiz: When did these two Eastern programs last play?
• Cornley's availability will be a game-time decision. He sustained a mid-foot sprain (left) in the Hartford game and did not practice Thursday or Friday. If Cornley can't go, struggling sophomore Milos Bogetic will start in his place.
• Jackson sprained an ankle against Hartford but practiced Friday and will start today.
• That 5-1 record for the Pirates is a bit deceiving. Their wins are over Caldwell College, Morgan State, St. Peter's, St. Mary's and Monmouth. They lost (76-71) at home to Fairleigh Dickinson.
• Gonzalez in his first year at The Hall after a successful seven-year run at Manhattan.
• The Pirates are averaging only 5,029 fans per home game. Continental Airlines Arena is capable of holding over 20,000 fans for a college hoops game.
• Quiz Answer: Penn State and Seton Hall last played Jan. 6, 1973, with the Lions getting a 71-57 win in New Jersey.
FOS Prediction: Seton Hall 67, Penn State 65
Comment: Cornley is a gamer, to be sure. But even if he goes, it is tough to imagine him being at full strength. That gives the Pirates a slight edge.
FOS Record: 7-1
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