Sept. 24, 2008

Men's Basketball Ticket Page
Women's Basketball Ticket Page
Men's Basketball Promotions Page
Women's Basketball Promotions Page

Single-game tickets for the 2008-09 Penn State men's and women's basketball teams will go on sale to the public on Friday, Sept. 26. A presale for season ticket holders to purchase additional single-game tickets will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25. Tickets are available by calling 814-865-5555.

The Nittany Lions will play 18 home games in 2008-09, nine in the non-conference season and nine on the Big Ten slate. The Lady Lions will play a total of 14 regular-season games at the Bryce Jordan Center this season, including a three-game homestand to open the season and a nine-game Big Ten home schedule.

In addition to single-game tickets, the Penn State Basketball Flex Book is also available. This season, Penn State introduced a new flex plan where our schedule will fit your schedule. The Flex Book includes 10 vouchers to redeem for tickets to any Nittany Lion or Lady Lion basketball game. Vouchers can be mixed and matched in any quantity or combination for men's or women's basketball games. Vouchers may be redeemed in advance or on gameday at the Athletic Ticket Office (240 Bryce Jordan Center) up until 4:00 p.m. the day of the game, Monday through Friday. Vouchers can also be redeemed for tickets on gameday at the main Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office (off Curtain Road) once the BJC ticket office has opened (two hours prior to tip-off). With multiple redemption options for Flex Book vouchers, our schedule can truly fit your schedule. Additional information will be part of the Flex Plan mailing.

Penn State men's basketball officially gets the 2008-09 season underway on Fri., Nov. 14, as the Nittany Lions take on William and Mary the night before the Penn State football team takes on Indiana in Beaver Stadium. The non-conference schedule is also highlighted by a visit from intra-state rival Temple (Sat., Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.).

The Big Ten men's basketball schedule is highlighted by four weekend home dates. Penn State will take on Iowa (Sat., Jan. 24 at 6 p.m.), Wisconsin (Sun., Feb. 8 at 3 p.m.), Minnesota (Sat. Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m.) and Indiana (Sat., Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.) on weekend dates in the Jordan Center, all on the Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions' nine Big Ten home dates also include January match-ups with Purdue (Tues., Jan. 6 at 9 p.m.), Michigan State (Wed., Jan 14 at 6:30 p.m.), Michigan (Tues., Jan. 20 at 9 p.m.) and an early March date with Illinois. The Illinois game is a television wild card game that will be played on either March 3, 4 or 5 on either the Big Ten Network or an ESPN outlet.

The Lady Lions' home schedule includes an exhibition game against California (Pa.) (Sun., Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m.) and regular-season games against South Carolina (Sun., Nov. 16; 2 p.m.), Stony Brook (Wed., Nov. 19; 7 p.m.), Prairie View A&M (Fri., Nov. 21; 7 p.m.), Dayton (Sat., Dec. 6; noon) and Bucknell (Tues., Dec. 9; 6:30 p.m.), Michigan State (Sun., Dec. 21; noon), Illinois (Sun., Dec. 28; noon), Michigan (Sun., Jan. 4 at 2 p.m.), Indiana (Sun., Jan. 11 at 2 p.m.) and Wisconsin (Thurs., Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.), Minnesota (Thurs., Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.), Iowa (Sun., Feb. 15), Purdue (Thurs., Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.) and Northwestern (Thurs., Feb. 26).

Coming off its most conference wins (7) and best Big Ten finish (7th) since 2001, head coach Ed DeChellis and Penn State return seven players that started 12 or more games in 2007-08, its top two scorers and four of its top five rebounders from last season. Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) and Jamelle Cornley (Columbus, Ohio) led the Lions in scoring and shared team MVP honors last season.

Battle, a sophomore point-guard who posted 10.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.1 apg last season, also led the Lions in assists and steals and was among the top five rebounders. Cornley, who averaged 12.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg last season, earned third-team All-Big Ten honors despite missing six games due to injury. He is among five returning seniors that also include guard Danny Morrissey (Cleveland, Ohio), the team's leading three-point shooter in three seasons, and Stanley Pringle (Virginia Beach, Va.), a starter in 12 games who shot better than 40 percent from the arc last year.

Head coach Coquese Washington and the Lady Lions return four starters and 10 letterwinners from a year ago, including third team All-Big Ten selection Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Washington is in her second season as head coach of the Lady Lions and led the Lady Lions to wins over nationally-ranked Duke and Pittsburgh in her first season. Washington was selected the "Rising Star in Coaching" for 2008 by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

O'Rourke, a senior point guard led the Big Ten in assists for the second time in her career and finished 51st nationally with a 4.7 average. She was also 39th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.838). Junior guard Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades for the second time in her career after leading the team and finishing ninth in the conference in scoring (13.8).

Any groups interested in purchasing single-game tickets should call 1-800-NITTANY and ask for Joel Diamond.