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Photo by: Wesley Dean
Gophers Continue Road Swing at Penn State
2/16/2022 7:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN (Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play) and Raphael Davis (Analyst)
Tip Time: 3:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG: KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 372
SERIES INFORMATION
43rd Meeting (30-12 all time)
At vs. Penn State: 10-9
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 792-878*
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is on the road for the second-straight game when it travels to Penn State Thursday night. It marks the second time in five days the Golden Gophers and Nittany Lions face each other. The Gophers defeated PSU just last Saturday in a 76-70 decision at Williams Arena. Minnesota will look for its first win at Bryce Jordan Center since 2018. PSU has won the last two meetings in Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions won 84-65 in 2021 and 83-77 in 2020.
• Minnesota is in the midst of a grueling four-game schedule in a week and three games in five days. The Gophers played Penn State Saturday night (76-70 win) and Ohio State (Feb. 15). After Minnesota's game at Penn State (Feb. 17), the Gophers are back in action at home against Northwestern (Feb. 19). It marks the first time since 2018 (Vancouver Showcase) where the Gophers have played three games in four days. Minnesota played three regular season games, non tournament play, back in 1989. It marks the first time in Big Ten play to happen. The Feb. 17 game is a make up game that was postponed earlier due to COVID-19 protocols on the Gopher team.
• Minnesota is coming off a 70-45 loss to No. 18 Ohio State, while Penn State earned a win over a ranked opponent in No. 19 Michigan State (62-58). The Gophers were on the road, while PSU will host its second-straight home game in as many days.
• Payton Willis has scored in double-figures 19 times this season, including his past 10 of 11 games. The senior averages 16.0 points per game this season, a single-season career best. It betters his 13.4 ppg he averaged at College of Charleston. In fact, Willis has also improved his three-point efficiency as well. He was 25-of-80 (.313) and 38-of-109 (.349) in his first two seasons at Vanderbilt. After sitting out the 2018-19 season following his initial transfer to Minnesota, Willis made 57-of-160 (.356) treys for the Gophers during 2019-20, then transferred to College of Charleston, where he made 40-of-100 (.400) three-pointers, and this year at 57-of-135 (.422) through 23 games.
• Jamison Battle is just two points away from his 1,000th career point, spanning over two and a half seasons of collegiate basketball. Battle scored 636 points at George Washington before transferring to Minnesota. He currently has 362 with the Gophers, totaling 998 collegiate points. Luke Loewe is sitting at 960 career points. The fifth-year senior held 769 career points with William & Mary and now has 191 as a Golden Gopher.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
• Penn State enters the Minnesota game with a 10-12 overall mark and 5-9 in Big Ten play. PSU's five wins came in four home wins against Indiana, Rutgers, Iowa and Michigan State with a Big Ten road win at Northwestern. Penn State went 5-3 in non-conference play.
• Four Nittany Lions are averaging double-digit points, led by Seth Lundy (13.1 ppg, Jalen Pickett (12.6 ppg) and Sam Sessoms (11.6 ppg). John Harrar follows with 10.5 ppg and a team-best 9.7 rpg. In the win over MSU Tuesday, Lundy had 17 points, while Harrar added a double-double 16 points, 16 boards.
• As a team, Penn State is averaging 65.1 points per game, allowing 65.5 ppg, shooting 43.0 percent from the field and averaging 35.9 rebounds per game. In conference action, PSU is averaging 63.4 ppg and allowing 67.1.
LAST TIME OUT VS. PSU
• Eric Curry scored a career-high 22 points, Payton Willis scored 13 of his 18 in the second half and Minnesota beat Penn State 76-70 on Saturday night.
• Payton Willis made 3-of-4 from 3-point range and finished with 10 assists and six rebounds. Eylijah Stephens scored 13 points — going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 2 minutes — and Luke Loewe added nine of his 11 after halftime. Curry went 10-of-19 made one three pointer, his first of the year, and had two assists.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota is back home when hosts the Northwestern Wildcats, Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network, while Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson provide the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.
TV: BTN (Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play) and Raphael Davis (Analyst)
Tip Time: 3:01 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG: KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play); Spencer Tollackson (Analyst)
Sirius XM: 372
SERIES INFORMATION
43rd Meeting (30-12 all time)
At vs. Penn State: 10-9
Minnesota vs. Big Ten: 792-878*
* - excludes vacated games
STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is on the road for the second-straight game when it travels to Penn State Thursday night. It marks the second time in five days the Golden Gophers and Nittany Lions face each other. The Gophers defeated PSU just last Saturday in a 76-70 decision at Williams Arena. Minnesota will look for its first win at Bryce Jordan Center since 2018. PSU has won the last two meetings in Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions won 84-65 in 2021 and 83-77 in 2020.
• Minnesota is in the midst of a grueling four-game schedule in a week and three games in five days. The Gophers played Penn State Saturday night (76-70 win) and Ohio State (Feb. 15). After Minnesota's game at Penn State (Feb. 17), the Gophers are back in action at home against Northwestern (Feb. 19). It marks the first time since 2018 (Vancouver Showcase) where the Gophers have played three games in four days. Minnesota played three regular season games, non tournament play, back in 1989. It marks the first time in Big Ten play to happen. The Feb. 17 game is a make up game that was postponed earlier due to COVID-19 protocols on the Gopher team.
• Minnesota is coming off a 70-45 loss to No. 18 Ohio State, while Penn State earned a win over a ranked opponent in No. 19 Michigan State (62-58). The Gophers were on the road, while PSU will host its second-straight home game in as many days.
• Payton Willis has scored in double-figures 19 times this season, including his past 10 of 11 games. The senior averages 16.0 points per game this season, a single-season career best. It betters his 13.4 ppg he averaged at College of Charleston. In fact, Willis has also improved his three-point efficiency as well. He was 25-of-80 (.313) and 38-of-109 (.349) in his first two seasons at Vanderbilt. After sitting out the 2018-19 season following his initial transfer to Minnesota, Willis made 57-of-160 (.356) treys for the Gophers during 2019-20, then transferred to College of Charleston, where he made 40-of-100 (.400) three-pointers, and this year at 57-of-135 (.422) through 23 games.
• Jamison Battle is just two points away from his 1,000th career point, spanning over two and a half seasons of collegiate basketball. Battle scored 636 points at George Washington before transferring to Minnesota. He currently has 362 with the Gophers, totaling 998 collegiate points. Luke Loewe is sitting at 960 career points. The fifth-year senior held 769 career points with William & Mary and now has 191 as a Golden Gopher.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
• Penn State enters the Minnesota game with a 10-12 overall mark and 5-9 in Big Ten play. PSU's five wins came in four home wins against Indiana, Rutgers, Iowa and Michigan State with a Big Ten road win at Northwestern. Penn State went 5-3 in non-conference play.
• Four Nittany Lions are averaging double-digit points, led by Seth Lundy (13.1 ppg, Jalen Pickett (12.6 ppg) and Sam Sessoms (11.6 ppg). John Harrar follows with 10.5 ppg and a team-best 9.7 rpg. In the win over MSU Tuesday, Lundy had 17 points, while Harrar added a double-double 16 points, 16 boards.
• As a team, Penn State is averaging 65.1 points per game, allowing 65.5 ppg, shooting 43.0 percent from the field and averaging 35.9 rebounds per game. In conference action, PSU is averaging 63.4 ppg and allowing 67.1.
LAST TIME OUT VS. PSU
• Eric Curry scored a career-high 22 points, Payton Willis scored 13 of his 18 in the second half and Minnesota beat Penn State 76-70 on Saturday night.
• Payton Willis made 3-of-4 from 3-point range and finished with 10 assists and six rebounds. Eylijah Stephens scored 13 points — going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 2 minutes — and Luke Loewe added nine of his 11 after halftime. Curry went 10-of-19 made one three pointer, his first of the year, and had two assists.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota is back home when hosts the Northwestern Wildcats, Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network, while Mike Grimm and Spencer Tollackson provide the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.
Senior Salute
Friday, March 06
Highlights: Gophers 47, Indiana 77
Wednesday, March 04
Coming Home: Jim Shikenjanski
Tuesday, March 03
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Bruins
Monday, March 02