Tulane (0-2) vs. Penn State (2-1)

Sports Network | November 20, 2009

GAME NOTES: Back in action for the second time in as many days, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Tulane Green Wave both try to bounce back from disappointing setbacks suffered in the opening round of the Charleston Classic at Carolina First Arena.

Of the eight teams in the second annual tournament, Tulane had the weakest offensive showing with a 74-54 loss to Miami-Florida. The defeat is the second in the a row to begin the 2009-10 campaign for the Green Wave, having lost to Georgetown at home by a near identical score (73-58) a week ago.

The Nittany Lions faced their first true challenge of the young season yesterday in UNC-Wilmington and found the Seahawks hard to handle in an 80-69 setback, snapping a two-game win streak for PSU that had been built on triumphs over Robert Morris and Penn at home.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Green Wave captured a 54-50 victory in the only other meeting back in December of 1978.

Both schools will be back in action on Sunday to finish off the event.

The Green Wave shot 45.8 percent from the field in the first half versus Miami on Thursday, but that only included 11 made field goals, and in the second half the team knocked down two fewer baskets on the way to a 20-point loss. Kris Richard tried to keep his team close with his 13 points and David Booker chipped in 12 points off the bench, thanks largely to his 5-of-6 at the free- throw line, but it was by no means enough to keep Tulane competitive. After two games the Green Wave is averaging just 56 ppg, while giving up 74 ppg to opponents that have made good on a healthy 51.4 percent shooting from the floor. Those teams have kept the door open by making a combined 62.5 percent at the free-throw line, but Tulane has failed to take advantage. Richard and Booker are the two double-digit scorers for the group at 14.0 and 13.0 ppg, respectively.

Talor Battle tied his career high with 29 points on Thursday, becoming just the 29th player in Penn State history to reach 1,000 points for his career, not to mention logging his 300th career assist, but even that sort of effort was not enough to lift a weak-shooting PSU squad against UNC-Wilmington. Battle made good on 11-of-12 shots at the free-throw line, but only 2-of-9 behind the three-point line and 8-of-23 from the floor overall as the team suffered with 32.3 percent from the field. Chris Babb was also cold at 2-of-12 from the floor, including 2-of-10 out on the perimeter. David Jackson chipped in with 12 points and seven boards, one less than Battle. Averaging 21.3 ppg over the first three of the season, Battle is again the go-to guy on offense for the Nittany Lions, taking almost twice as many shots as Babb (10.0 ppg). But n more than just a scorer, Battle also leads the team with his 8.0 rpg and 4.0 apg, so in stopping him you tend to slow down the entire unit.

Considering the Green Wave has yet to break out in a big way on offense and the Nittany Lions can count on Battle to produce on a regular basis, this one should fall in favor of PSU.

GAME NOTES: Back in action for the second time in as many days, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Tulane Green Wave both try to bounce back from disappointing setbacks suffered in the opening round of the Charleston Classic at Carolina First Arena.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Carolina First Arena (5,100) - Charleston, South Carolina. Television: None. Home Record: Tulane 0-1, PSU 2-0. Away Record: Tulane 0-0, PSU 0-0. Neutral Record: Tulane 0-1, PSU 0-1. Conference Record: Tulane 0-0, PSU 0-0. Series Record: Tulane leads, 1-0.

Friday, November 20th, 12:30 p.m. (et).

Penn State 77, Tulane 60