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Indiana attempts to secure No. 2 spot in Big Ten tournament

Mar 9, 2008 - 1:31 PM No. 17 Indiana (25-5) at Penn St (14-15) 2:00 pm EDT

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Ticker) - Indiana knows it already has a bye locked up in the Big Ten Tournament. However, if recent history is any indication, it would behoove the Hoosiers to finish strong on Sunday.

The 17th-ranked Hoosiers close out their Big Ten schedule Sunday when they travel to the Bryce Jordan Center to meet Penn State.

For Indiana (25-5, 14-3), a win against the Nittany Lions (14-15, 6-11) would secure the No. 2 seed over Purdue (14-3) in next week's conference tournament by virtue of their February 19 win over the Boilermakers.

In the 10 years the Big Ten has held a postseason tournament, the second seed has won five times.

However, a loss to Penn State combined with a win by Purdue at Michigan, would drop Indiana to a No. 3 seed - a spot from which a team has never won in the Big Ten Tournament. It would be the same seed the Hoosiers wrapped up last season before falling in the first round to Illinois.

To avoid a similar fate, Indiana would like nothing more to rid itself of the bitter taste left by its last road defeat, a 29-point loss at Michigan State last Sunday.

The Hoosiers were much better in their home finale on Wednesday in their 69-55 home win over Minnesota. Freshman Eric Gordon led four players in double figures with 20 points.

Indiana already owns a 81-65 victory over the Nittany Lions on January 20.

Penn State is coming off Wednesday's 77-41 loss to Wisconsin. Freshman guard Talor Battle scored 10 points, the only Nittany Lion to reach double figures. .