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NEWS & NOTES MEN'S BASKETBALL PSU to face Princeton in return to Rec Hall Penn State is hoping to recapture some of that Rec Hall magic. At a July 31 news conference, the school announced that the Nittany Lions will return to their former home court Dec. 14 for a game against Princeton. It will be the first time the Lions have played in the storied building since Jan. 7, 1996 (a 79-50 victory over Wisconsin), and their return after an absence of nearly two decades will require a lot of preparation. The floor must be resurfaced, the bleachers adjusted and new baskets brought in. But despite all the work the game will entail, coaches, players and athletic officials are thrilled to be heading back to the little bandbox on the other side of campus, site of many of the team's most memorable moments. "We listen to the fans, we listen to our alums. Former players, we heard you!" coach Patrick Chambers enthused. "That's why this game is now a reality." Athletic director Dave Joyner called it a "retro" game, and Chambers said the team may even wear throwback uniforms. It will certainly be a departure – in more ways than one – from the Bryce Jordan Center. While the BJC seats 15,261, Rec Hall holds only 6,300 for basketball. That capacity might seem low, but as those who attended games in the Atlantic 10 era can attest, 6,300 people can make a lot of noise when packed into a confined space. Rec Hall was well known for its raucous atmosphere and its bleacher configuration, in which the courtside seats were only a few feet from the court itself. Chambers is hopeful that tickets will sell out early. There will be 4,200 general public tickets available for $20 apiece, while the 2,100 student tickets will go for $10. Season ticketholders and Hoops Club members will get first dibs on Sept. 10, while tickets for the general public go on sale Sept. 24. The student sale will take place in October. "We really want to fill this place," Chambers said. "Season ticket-holders will get the first crack at it, but fans, please come out. Alums, please come out. Let's make this a special event that this country will be very envious of. Let's make this something that Penn Staters have never had in all their years of coming to Penn State basketball. That's my plea to the fans." Former head coach Bruce Parkhill, whose success helped the team compile an all-time winning percentage of 73.7 inside Rec Hall, attended the announcement along with Chambers and Joyner. The Lions' coach from 1984 to '95, Parkhill said it's "so special that the people involved here have gone through the effort they have to make this happen. It's really important to me, having been part of the pre-Big Ten and Big Ten era at Penn State, [to recognize] the student-athletes who participated before we got into the Big Ten. I think sometimes they get lost in the shuffle. This is a great way to go back and recognize them. To me, it's a wonderful thing what they're doing." – TIM OWEN PennStateLive

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