Men’s basketball looks to keep winning

Story posted December 19, 2014 in CommRadio, Sports by Mandy Bell

Trying to extend its winning streak to nine games, Penn State men's basketball (10-1) will take on the Drexel Dragons (2-7) on Saturday at the newly constructed PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. 

The Dragons have picked up only two wins so far, defeating Cornell and Southern Mississippi.  Following those wins, Drexel proceeded to drop their next three games and currently sit five games below .500.

Drexel has struggled mightily to put points on the board to this point.  Their season-high point total of 70 is two shy of the Nittany Lions average of 72 points per game.

Despite the scoring difference, Penn State cannot take the Dragons lightly.  Out of the ten games that the Nittany Lions have won this season, only three of them have been by more than ten points. 

Drexel and Penn State have similar teams when it comes to scoring distribution.  Penn State’s leading scorer is senior guard D.J. Newbill, who averages 21.9 points per game and Shep Garner adds 10.5 points per outing.  Drexel’s leading scorer, junior guard Damion Lee, averages 20.7 points per game and Tavon Allen contributes 9.8 points per contest. 

Both Ross Travis for the Nittany Lions and Rodney Williams for the Dragons stand at 6-foot-7 inches tall and average about eight rebounds per game.  Both teams average a mere 9.8 assists per game and nearly the same amount of turnovers (13.5 for Penn State and 13 for Drexel). 

Although the season statistics match up nearly identical between these two teams, the one thing that separates them drastically is the amount of points each team scores per game.  However, considering Penn State’s theme this year of keeping games close, Saturday’s matchup at the PPL Center may be a lower scoring affair than the Nittany Lions have grown accustomed.

The Dragons have had their share of close games as well, but they have only come out on top in one of those games.  Because of this, if Saturday’s game is close, expect Penn State to be used to the pressure and come out with the win. 

Penn State and Drexel have not met since 1992. The Nittany Lions have won each of the four previous meetings between the programs. Penn State will be considered the home team at the neutral site contest. 

Penn State has six wins in six tries at the Bryce Jordan Center this year.  Whether the change of location for this upcoming “home” game will affect the team’s performance by not having a true home court advantage is yet to be determined.  However, since Penn State only has one loss on the year, it does not seem that the environment plays a part in whether they win or lose.   

Saturday’s tipoff at the PPL Center is set for 2 p.m. and can be heard live on ComRadio.

Mandy Bell is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism.  To contact her, email amb6857@psu.edu.