Game One Notes




March 9, 2006

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Penn State

-PSU broke a five-game losing streak in Big Ten Tournament play, dating back to the 2002 tournament.  Each time the Nittany Lions have advanced to the quarterfinal round, they have won their second game. In 2000, ninth-seeded PSU beat No. 1 Ohio State, 71-66, then in 2001, seventh-seeded PSU defeated No. 2 Michigan State, 65-63.  PSU's all-time record in Big Ten Tournament play is now 5-8 (3-6 in first-round play). Today marked PSU's first-ever victory at Conseco Fieldhouse.

-In nine BTTs, the eighth-seeded team has beaten the ninth-seeded team seven times.

-Only four players (Luber 2 games, Claxton, Walker and Morrissey 1 each) on PSU's roster had ever played in a Big Ten Tournament game before today's win over Northwestern.

-PSU's victory over NU was its 15th of the season (against 13 losses). In PSU's previous two seasons, it had won a total of 16 games (9-19 in 2003-04 and 7-23 in 2004-05).

-In the last five Big Ten Tournament games (including the last four of the 2005 BTT), the winning team has not scored more than 64 points (OSU def. Wis, 60-49; Ill def. Minn, 64-56; Wis def. Iowa, 59-56; Ill def. Wis, 54-43; and PSU def. NU, 60-42).

-In Geary Claxton's two career Big Ten Tournament games, he has averaged 18 ppg and 12.5 rpg, and has shot .583 from the field (14 of 24).

-PSU led NU in steals, 7-6. It was the 10th consecutive time in Big Ten Tournament action that the team with more steals had won the game.

-The highest-seeded team has won the last five Big Ten Tournament games, including 16 of the last 21.
 

Northwestern

-NU brings its record in the Big Ten Tournament to 4-9; its first ever loss against PSU. It brings the Wildcats Big Ten Tournament  record vs. PSU to 1-2.  It also makes their all-time overall record at Conseco to 2-2.  NUs overall record for the 2005-2006 finishes at 14-15.


 

 

-Senior forward Vedran Vukusic finishes his career at Northwestern in third place on NU's career points list with 1,586. He also ends his career as NU's leader in 3-point field goals with a total 212. In six Big Ten Tournament games Vukusic averaged 11.2 points.

-Senior guard Mohamed Hachad led the Wildcats with 16 points and tied a season high with 4 steals.In seven career Big Ten Tournament games Hachad averaged 11.7 points. 

-NU's 42 points is one more point higher than the all time fewest points in the 1st round of the Big Ten Tournament (3/6/99 Wisconsin vs. Michigan State, 41-56).