Gophers Set to Host Penn State

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN (Cory Provus - play by play, Shon Morris - color)
Tip Time: 8:07 p.m. CT
Radio: Learfield IMG: KFAN 100.3 FM
Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play), Spencer Tollackson (Color)
Sirius: 113 or 196; SXM App: 958

SERIES INFORMATION
35th Meeting (30-14 all time)
Record vs PSU at Home: 16-3
Gophers All-Time vs. Big Ten: 785-895*
* - excludes vacated games

STARTING FIVE
• The University of Minnesota men's basketball team is back in action Saturday when it hosts Penn State at 8 p.m. It marks Minnesota's first game this week, but it begins four-game swing in seven days. After the Gophers play the Nittany Lions on Saturday, Minnesota then plays its makeup game at Illinois on Monday, at Maryland Wednesday and at Nebraska Feb. 25.
• Saturday's contest marks the only game contested between the two teams this season. Minnesota is 16-3 at home against PSU all time, dating back to 1975. The game also features two of the best assist play makers in the Big Ten and nationally in Minnesota's Ta'Lon Cooper and Penn State's Jalen Pickett. Both rank in the Big Ten's top five in assists and nationally.
• Michigan State University announced on Monday, Feb. 13 that the men's basketball game between Minnesota and Michigan State, which was to be contested on Wednesday, Feb 15 at Michigan State, was postponed because of the tragic shootings that took place on the Michigan State campus on Monday. Any information regarding rescheduling would be announced at a later date.
• Minnesota played Feb. 12 when it hosted the Iowa Hawkeyes in Williams Arena. Joshua Ola-Joseph led Minnesota with 11 points, Ta'Lon Cooper had 10 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, and Jaden Henley added 10 points, but Iowa pulled away late for a 68-56 win. Minnesota was limited to eight players in the game, as the Gophers were without leading scorer and rebounder Dawson Garcia and guard Braeden Carrington. It was also Minnesota's first game after a COVID pause, in which the Gophers had to postpone the Illinois game from Feb. 7 to Feb. 20.
• Minnesota tied its season-high nine team blocks in the loss against Iowa, and also a best against a Big Ten team. The Gophers also shot 50 percent for the game, the second time in Big Ten play this happened. The first was against Ohio State in the 70-67 win. Will Ramberg also tied a career-high eight points. He saw 29 minutes of action and also grabbed seven rebounds, which tied a team high. Pharrel Payne also had seven rebounds in his fourth start.

ABOUT PENN STATE
• Penn State is 15-11 this season and 6-9 in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions are coming off a convincing 93-81 win over Illinois Tuesday night.
• Tuesday's star, fifth-year senior Jalen Pickett, scored 41 points against the Illini. He leads the team averaging 18.1 points, is shooting 52 percent on the season and 36.7 from three. He also leads the team with 7.4 rebounds and 25 steals and 181 assists. He ranks first in the Big Ten and fourth nationally in assists and assists per game (7.0). Seth Lundy follows with 14.6 ppg, while Andrew Funk averages 12.6. Arguably one of the oldest teams in the nation, PSU's top five scorers are seniors.
• As a team, the Nittany Lions are averaging 73.2 points and allowing 68.7 per game. They are shooting 46.8 from the field, including 38.9 from three. They average 32.1 rebounds per game and shooting 75.4 from the free throw line.

THE LAST TIME
• Minnesota fell to Penn State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 9, 2022. Jalen Pickett hit three 3-pointers on his way to 22 points and Penn State defeated Minnesota 60-51. Jamison Battle scored eight points to help Minnesota take a 28-24 lead at halftime. Penn State took its first lead of the second half at 33-32.
• The last time these two teams met at Williams Arena, the Gophers won, 76-70 to snap a five-game losing skid on Feb. 12, 2022. Eric Curry scored 22 points, Payton Willis scored 13 of his 18 in the second half. Willis made 3 of 4 from 3-point range and finished with 10 assists and six rebounds. E.J. Stephens scored 13 points.

POSTPONEMENT GAMES
• The Minnesota men's basketball game originally scheduled for Feb. 7 at Illinois, will now be played on Monday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. in Champaign, Ill. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network. The game was postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols within the Golden Gopher program, announced earlier today.
• Michigan State announced on Monday, Feb. 13 that the men's basketball game between Minnesota and Michigan State, which was to be contested on Wednesday, Feb 15 at Michigan State, was postponed because of the tragic shootings that took place on the Michigan State campus on Monday. Any information regarding rescheduling would be announced at a later date.

INJURIES FOR THE GOPHERS
• Minnesota freshman guard Braeden Carrington has suffered a right leg stress reaction and will be sidelined for approximately four weeks, announced Jan. 19. His status will be re-evaluated after that time. Carrington, one of the first off the bench, averages 22 minutes and 6.2 points in 14 games this season.
• Minnesota was without Dawson Garcia and Pharrel Payne against Indiana. Payne returned to the lineup against Northwestern, but Garcia remains day-to-day and has missed the past five games. Garcia started in 18 games and led the team in scoring.

ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota is back in action Monday when it travels to Illinois for an 8 p.m., tilt. The game will be televised on BTN.
• Mike Grimm and Tanner Hoops will also be on the radio call on KFAN 100.3 FM.

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Players Mentioned

Jamison Battle

Braeden Carrington

Ta'Lon Cooper

Eric Curry

Dawson Garcia

Jaden Henley

Joshua Ola-Joseph

Pharrel Payne

Will Ramberg

Payton Willis