Crowd filling in very slowly here at the Bryce Jordan Center this evening. The roads in State College are covered and it looks like most of the locals will be staying him. The students are turning out at about an average pace, though. It's going to be a sparse crowd, which for a game as big as this, isn't good for Penn State.
Starting lineup for Penn State is standard: Talor Battle, Tim Frazier, Jeff Brooks, David Jackson and Andrew Jones. Taran Buie is not dressed for the fifth straight game.
The pep band has a renewed edge to it tonight with the students back in town.
Talor Battle opens the scoring for Penn State with a runner in the lane. Andrew Jones follows with a post up of his own. Lions look pretty fluid in the first couple possessions.
Battle hits a three and Jones gets a dunk to make it 9-2 Penn State with 16:40 in the half and Bruce Webber calls a timeout for Illinois. The Fighting Illini have been very sloppy in the early going, already with three turnovers. Tim Frazier has been active on the glass for Penn State, already with two boards at the point guard spot.
With 15:57 in the half, Penn State still leads 9-2.