Penn State to Battle No. 22 Illini Thursday In BJC

Historically close series continues live on ESPN2 at 9:00 p.m. Thursday

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., JAN. 18, 2012 – Penn State (9-10; 1-5 Big Ten) and No. 22/25 Illinois (15-3; 4-1 Big Ten)will continue one of the closest series in the Big Ten over the last four years Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center in a 9:00 p.m. tip live on ESPN2. It is Dollar Dog Night at the BJC and Penn State will don third-color gray uniforms for the first time in program history. Penn State students wearing any gray Penn State T-shirt will be admitted free.

Five of the last eight games played between the two teams have been decided by two points or less, including four one-point games since 2008. The Nittany Lions knocked of No. 16-ranked Illinois, 57-55, last year in the Jordan Center onAndrew Jones’ last second follow-up dunk of a Talor Battle driving lay-up attempt. Penn State has won three of its last four meetings with a ranked Illinois team, including close victories over the No. 16-ranked Illini (38-33) and No. 23-ranked Illini (64-63) in 2009.                  

Six games played between the two team in the Bryce Jordan Center since 1996 have been decided by three points or less with Penn State winning five of those.

Junior guard Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) brings a string of three-straight 20-point or better scoring nights into Thursday’s contest. Frazier’s nine 20-point or better games on the season lead all Big Ten players and he is one of two Big Six conference players to rank in the top five of scoring, assists and steals in their respective conference’s statistics.

Senior Cammeron Woodyard (Westminster, Md.) is coming off a career-best 22-point night vs. Minnesota on Sunday. 

Penn State will hit the road for its next two games after Thursday, beginning with a noon tip at No. 11/13 Indiana on Sunday. 

This article courtesy of Penn State athletics.