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Georgia Tech hosts Penn State in ACC-Big Ten Challenge

Nov 28, 2006 - 2:12 PM Penn St (4-1) at No. 24 Georgia Tech (5-1) 8:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) - Disappointed with its loss in the final of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, Georgia Tech is ready to take out its frustration.

The 24th-ranked Yellow Jackets look to return to their winning ways and maintain their home dominance of non-conference foes Tuesday when they host Penn State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

After opening the Maui Invitational with a victory over Purdue, Georgia Tech needed to rally from a 16-point halftime deficit to post a 92-85 triumph over Memphis.

However, the Yellow Jackets could not keep pace with hot-shooting UCLA, which hit 58 percent (31-of-53) from the floor in Wednesday's 88-73 defeat. Lewis Clinch led Georgia Tech with 21 points.

Although Georgia Tech is 3-4 in the Challenge, it has an impressive 150-9 record at home against non-conference opponents since 1981-1982. That includes wins over Wisconsin in the 2001 Challenge and Michigan three years later.

Off to its best start in six seasons, Penn State plays its first road game of the campaign. The Nittany Lions have lost four straight Challenge contests, including three to Clemson.

Jamelle Cornley scored 18 points, Danny Morrissey added 15 and Brandon Hassell 14 for Penn State, which posted a 35-26 rebound edge in Saturday's 65-51 victory over St. Joseph's.

The Nittany Lions won the only previous matchup against Georgia Tech, a 75-70 victory in the third round of the 1998 NIT.