Penn State Basketball: Nittany Lions Take on Pitt in Never Forget Tribute Classic
Penn State will look to start a new win streak Saturday against the Pitt Panthers.
The Penn State Nittany Lions had a four-game win streak snapped on Wednesday night. It was a game head coach Patrick Chambers would love to forget. His squad shot just 36 percent from the field and managed just 66 points against George Mason. On the other side of the ball, Penn State really struggled to play defense and allowed the Patriots to shoot 51 percent from the field.
Payton Banks scored a team-high 21 points, including five three-pointers. Unfortunately, outside of Banks, the Nittany Lions couldn’t must much offense.
Failing to score has been a common problem for the Nittany Lions this year. They are averaging just 71.7 points a game, ranking 233rd in the nation.
There’s a lot of potential for growth in Happy Valley this season, as several true freshmen have already made a big impact. However, with youth comes growing pains. That’s what Chambers and his team has experienced so far.
Up next is a tough battle on a neutral court with in-state rival Pittsburgh.
The Panthers are 7-2 this season and rebounded from a loss to Duquesne by defeating Buffalo on December 7.
Senior forward Michael Young is the team leader, pouring in 22.3 points a game and grabbing just over seven boards a game. He has yet to score less that 17 points in a game this season. Joining Young in the front court is fellow senior Jamel Artis, who averages 19.3 points a game.
Throw a third senior forward into the mix, Sheldon Jeter, and the Nittany Lions could find themselves struggling down low against the Panthers down low. Jeter is second on the team with 7.3 rebounds per game.
Penn State and Pittsburgh last met on the basketball court in 2013. The Panthers came away with a 78-69 victory.
Tip for Saturday’s game is set for 2:30. CBS Sports Network will carry all the action live from the Prudential Center in Newark, Jersey. It’s the second game of a double-header in the Never Forget Tribute Classic. Villanova and Notre Dame will take the court prior to the Nittany Lions and Panthers.
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