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Penn State visits Minnesota in search of rare win

Jan 11, 2009 - 2:29 PM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- A pair of surprising teams clash when Penn State visits 19th-ranked Minnesota on Sunday in a Big Ten matchup.

The Golden Gophers (14-1, 2-1 Big Ten) hope to extend the program's best start since they opened the 1948-49 season with an identical 14-1 mark.

They will need a better effort offensively than they put forth in their last contest, a 52-49 triumph over Iowa. Minnesota shot just 34 percent (19-of-56) from the field, including 5-of-22 from 3-point range.

Lawrence Westbrook and Travis Busch had 10 points apiece as the Golden Gophers overcame a 13-point deficit in just their second true road game of the season.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions (13-3, 2-1) will be in search of their school record third straight win over a ranked opponent, as well as their best conference start since opening the 1996 campaign with a 4-0 mark.

Penn State, which ended last season with a win over then-No. 17 Indiana, captured a 67-64 upset win over 14th-ranked Purdue on Tuesday for its first back-to-back wins over teams in the Top 25 since the 1954 NCAA tournament.

Talor Battle led the way with 21 points and nine assists, Stanley Pringle added 18 and Penn State held a 37-22 rebounding advantage, including 19-5 on the offensive end.

The Nittany Lions will have to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Golden Gophers in the process and win at the Williams Center for just the second time in 16 tries.