GAME NOTES: The Purdue Boilermakers and Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference will do battle this evening at the Bryce Jordan Center. Purdue is aiming for its first 5-1 Big Ten start since the 2002-03 season, as the program has been locked in a state of mediocrity in recent years. The 2007-08 Boilermakers are 13-5 overall after a 74-67 triumph over Illinois on Saturday. On a down note, the club is just 1-3 in true road games this season. As for Penn State, it has suffered three consecutive defeats to fall to 10-7 overall and 2-3 in league play. The Nittany Lions, who recently lost their best player for the rest of the season, are coming off an 81-65 setback to Indiana on the road on Sunday. Purdue holds an 18-9 series lead over Penn State, including back-to-back wins over the Nittany Lions.

Purdue is scoring 69.7 ppg this season while limiting the opposition to 62.2 ppg. The top offensive performer for the Boilermakers is Keaton Grant, as he is netting 12.1 ppg on 48.6 percent shooting from three-point range. Robbie Hummel is the only other double-digit scorer for Purdue, as he is posting 10.4 ppg to go along with a team-high 5.7 rpg. In the victory over Illinois on Saturday, Purdue got 22 points from Grant, who nailed 4-of-6 three-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws. Nemanja Calasan pitched in 17 points for the Boilermakers, who got 13 points from Hummel. Purdue suffered a 38-25 rebounding disadvantage in the clash, but the club committed just 10 turnovers while forcing the opposition into 21 giveaways.

Geary Claxton was posting 17.5 ppg and 8.4 rpg before a knee injury abruptly ended his season. In the absence of that standout performer, Jamelle Cornley is the only active double-digit scorer on the roster. Cornley is netting 12.6 ppg to go along with 6.4 rpg, and he is shooting 51.8 percent from the floor. Penn State is netting 70.4 ppg through 17 outings while allowing just 65.8 ppg, but that scoring differential has taken a hit in recent games. Talor Battle scored 20 points against Indiana on Sunday, and Cornley finished that game with 19 points and seven rebounds. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions permitted the Hoosiers to connect on 56.9 percent of their field goal attempts en route to victory.

Without Claxton, Big Ten wins will be hard to come by for Penn State. Still, a victory over Purdue tonight is a possibility.