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Penn State goes for another win at Illinois

Feb 18, 2009 - 11:25 AM Penn State (18-8) at No. 16 Illinois (21-5) 7:00 p.m. EST

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- Illinois has yet to lose on its home court in conference play this season, but Penn State has won its last two trips to Assembly Hall.

Something will have to give Wednesday when the 16th-ranked Fighting Illini host the Nittany Lions in a key Big Ten matchup.

Following a win at Purdue to open the conference schedule, Illinois (21-5, 9-4 Big Ten) lost four straight road games in conference play. But the Illini have won two straight on the road and return home with the regular season conference title within reach.

With Michigan State's loss against the Boilermakers on Tuesday, Illinois now stands one game behind the Spartans in the standings with a home date against them scheduled for March 1 still to come.

Illinois followed a comeback win at Northwestern Thursday with a 65-52 win over Indiana on Sunday. Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale scored 16 points each in the win.

Penn State is in search of its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2001 and a road win against a top 25 opponent would go a long way in punching its ticket.

The Nittany Lions snapped a three-game slide with a 68-63 win against Minnesota on Saturday. Talor Battle scored 21 points and Stanley Pringle added 13 for Penn State, which Illinois at home on March 5.