State College, Pa. - May 29, 2001 - While the Big Ten Conference once again led the nation in total attendance in men's basketball for the 25th straight season, the Penn State Nittany Lions grabbed the 35th spot overall this year.

The Big Ten set a new total attendance record of 2,232,253 in 170 regular season games, shattering its own previous record of 2,225, 913 set during the 1999-2000 season (168 contests). The conference has broken the two million mark in total attendance in each of the last nine seasons. The conference established a new national attendance record of 2,342,022 total fans for an average of 13,383 per contest (including regular season and the Big Ten Tournament).

Penn State averaged 10,588 per game this year, 35th nationally. The average ranks as the fourth highest season-ending average in school history, behind 1996-97's 13,145; 1995-96's 10,919; and 1998-99's 10,635.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 21-12 season that saw Jerry Dunn's crew advance to its first-ever modern day (expanded field) Sweet 16 and make a second straight appearance in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.