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The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, December 21st, 7:30 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Bryce Jordan Center (15,621) -- University Park, Pennsylvania. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Cornell 4-1, Penn State 5-2. Away Record: Cornell 0-4, Penn State 1-2. Neutral Record: Cornell 0-0, Penn State 1-1. Conference Record: Cornell 0-0, Penn State 0-0. Series Record: Cornell leads, 5-4.
GAME NOTES: The Cornell Big Red of the Ivy League have traveled to University Park for tonight's clash with the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference.
On Monday, Cornell put up a fight against nationally-ranked Illinois, but that road affair ended in a 64-60 defeat. The setback ended a modest two-game win streak for the Big Red, who are now 4-5 on the season. They are 0-4 in true road games and are playing the second of what will be five consecutive road tilts this evening.
As for Penn State, it managed to halt a three-game skid with a 72-43 rout of Mount St. Mary's on Sunday. The Nittany Lions are now 7-5 overall and bring a 5-2 home record into this evening's affair. They will begin Big Ten play next Thursday against nationally-ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Cornell holds a narrow 5-4 series edge over Penn State, and the programs haven't squared off in more than a decade.
There is only one double-digit scorer on the roster for Cornell, as Drew Ferry is netting 14.0 ppg on the strength of his 43.6 percent shooting from three- point range. Josh Figini averages 9.7 ppg for the Big Red, who are getting 5.7 apg from Chris Wroblewski. In Monday's game against Illinois, Cornell shot just 39.3 percent from the field and scored a mere six points from the foul line. The Big Red were outrebounded by a 42-25 margin as well, key to the defeat. Figini scored 14 points in that affair, and Wroblewski added 10. Ferry was held in check, limited to nine points on 3-of-10 field goal efficiency.
Tim Frazier has clearly been the top performer for Penn State this season, as he is averaging 17.2 ppg to go along with 87 assists, 27 steals and 5.3 rpg. It is rare to find a player that can top a roster in all four of those categories, so Frazier's talent shouldn't be underestimated. Unfortunately, his supporting cast is rather weak, as no other Nittany Lion is averaging more than 9.3 ppg or 4.9 rpg. Penn State is netting 63.2 ppg on just 39.5 percent shooting from the field, while permitting 61.2 ppg to opponents. Frazier scored 15 points and handed out eight assists in the victory over Mount St. Mary's last weekend, and he got plenty of help from his teammates for a change as four others scored in double figures. The Nittany Lions shot 50.9 percent from the field while holding their overmatched opponents to 36.2 percent shooting, and a solid rebounding effort helped the cause as well.
Penn State will take care of business tonight with a victory over Cornell. The Nittany Lions pull ahead in the second half.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Penn State 70, Cornell 60
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