Penn State Nittany Lions (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) at Illinois Fighting Illini (11-3, 3-1 Big Ten)
Champaign, Illinois; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Penn State takes on No. 13 Illinois after Nick Kern scored 21 points in Penn State’s 77-71 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Fighting Illini are 7-1 on their home court. Illinois is eighth in the Big Ten in team defense, giving up 67.2 points while holding opponents to 38.1% shooting.
The Nittany Lions are 2-2 in Big Ten play. Penn State scores 86.8 points and has outscored opponents by 18.3 points per game.
Illinois averages 10.7 made 3-pointers per game, 3.3 more made shots than the 7.4 per game Penn State gives up. Penn State has shot at a 50.1% rate from the field this season, 12.0 percentage points above the 38.1% shooting opponents of Illinois have averaged.
The Fighting Illini and Nittany Lions square off Wednesday for the first time in Big Ten play this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kasparas Jakucionis is shooting 49.6% and averaging 16.4 points for the Fighting Illini.
Adrian Baldwin Jr. is scoring 14.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Nittany Lions.
LAST 10 GAMES: Fighting Illini: 8-2, averaging 87.2 points, 41.2 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 5.2 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.2 points per game.
Nittany Lions: 7-3, averaging 81.1 points, 31.9 rebounds, 17.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.3 points.
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