Long Island @ Penn State
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center
Records: Penn State 6-3, Long Island 4-5
Coaches: Ed DeChellis is 37-60 in four seasons at Penn State and 142-153 in 11 seasons overall; Jim Ferry is 151-93 in nine seasons at Long Island.
Series: Penn State leads, 2-0
TV: ESPN 360 (visit ESPN.com for details). Frank Giardina (play-by-play) and Bart Bellairs (color).
Radio: Steve Jones (play-by-play) and Dick Jerardi (color) will call the game for the Penn State Sports Network.
Last Time Out: Penn State lost at Seton Hall (69-59) Saturday. Long Island lost to Harvard at home (87-79) the same day.
Next Up: Penn State plays host to Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at 4 p.m.
Lineups:
Penn State
G Ben Luber, 6-0 Sr. (7.7)
G David Jackson, 6-1 Sr. (6.1)
F Geary Claxton, 6-5 Jr. (15.6)
F Jamelle Cornley, 6-5 So. (14.1)
F Brandon Hassell, 6-11 Jr. (6.4)
Long Island
G Aubin Scott, 6-2 Sr. (10.0)
G James Williams, 5-10 Sr. (16.8)
G Tyrone Mattison, 6-0 So. (6.6)
F Esa Maki-Tulokas, 6-7 Sr. (5.9)
F Kellen Allen, 6-7 Jr. (4.3)
Notes:
• Quickie Quiz: Where does Penn State rank in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover margin?
• A veteran backcourt was supposed to be a strength for the Lions this year. But is has not turned out that way. Aside from being unable to handle full-court pressure, the Lions also rank last in the conference in 3-point shooting percentage (32.9) and steals (45). What in the name of Tony Soskich is going on here?
• Luber was held scoreless at Seton Hall, the first time since a Jan. 21 home loss to Ohio State that he did not tally at least two points.
• Hassell is long and springy for a center. But he has only four blocks in 203 minutes played this season. PSU is tied with Purdue for last in the Big Ten in blocks with only 19 on the year. Four individual players in the league have more than that.
• After starting the season with two assists and 12 turnovers, PSU backup big man Milos Bogetic had five assists and two turnovers in the past two games.
• The Blackbirds average 24 3-points shots per game but are only making 7.4 per outing.
• Quiz Answer: The Lions are next to last in the league in assist-to-turnover margin, checking in at minus-2 per game.
Prediction: Penn State 73, Long Island 59
Comment: The Blackbirds are quick, but look for the Nittany Lions' size to make a difference.
Prediction Record: 8-1
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