Can the Nittany Lions Tame the Boilermakers at Mackey Arena?

As the Penn State Nittany Lions prepare to face off against the Purdue Boilermakers, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their aggressive defensive play and sharp shooting that has characterized recent performances. The upcoming clash at Mackey Arena is poised to be a pivotal moment in PSU's season.

In their last outing on January 10th against Northwestern Wildcats, PSU fell just short of victory with a final score of 72-76. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways; notably, they managed an impressive 14 steals and capitalized on turnovers by scoring 19 points off them. Their free throw accuracy was also commendable at 79 percent. However, one area where PSU struggled was beyond the arc, hitting only 18 percent from three-point range.

Comparatively, in an earlier game on January 7th against Michigan Wolverines at Palestra in Philadelphia, PSU showcased resilience and offensive firepower by overcoming a halftime deficit to win with a strong second half performance ending with a score of 79-73. Their ability to convert from the free-throw line remained consistent at 77 percent while improving their three-point shooting percentage to 30.

However, it's worth noting that during an away game on January 5th against Michigan State Spartans – one of the tougher teams in the conference – PSU faced challenges as they were outscored significantly (61-92). The Spartans' offense proved too potent for PSU's defense as they allowed a high field goal percentage of both two-pointers (60 percent) and three-pointers (48 percent).

Looking ahead to Purdue Boilermakers presents another tough challenge for Penn State Nittany Lions. To secure victory away from home, it will be crucial for them to maintain defensive intensity while finding consistency in their shooting – especially from long range which has been fluctuating over past games.

The upcoming game is scheduled for January 13th at Mackey Arena with tip-off set for shortly after lunchtime at approximately quarter past two local time. Fans who cannot make it to West Lafayette can catch all the action live on BTN channel number six hundred ten.

With anticipation building up among fans and analysts alike, this matchup promises not only excitement but also serves as an indicator of whether Penn State can continue its pursuit towards being among top contenders this season or if Purdue will prove too formidable on their home court.