UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It will be a fabulous night in Rec Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 2 when the Nittany Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams host "Hoops Madness" with a special performance by top selling rap artist Fabolous.
The Brooklyn-born Fabolous has twice been nominated for a Grammy and has sold more than three million albums with numerous chart topping hits since his debut release, Ghetto Fabolous, reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart in 2001. Fabolous has released five albums to date with the last, Loso’s Way, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2009. His albums have spawned such hits as "My Time," Throw It In The Bag," "Hollaback," "Into You," "Breathe," and "Make Me Better." The rapper has been ranked as high as No. 8 on MTV’s Hottest MC In The Game list.
Rec Hall, the venerable former home of Penn State basketball, will once again shake with hoops hysteria on Nov. 2. New Nittany Lion coach Patrick Chambers and the 2011-12 Nittany Lions led by junior guard Tim Frazier and fifth-year Lady Lion coach Coquese Washington and a 2011-12 Lady Lion team that returns four starters led by All-Big Ten guard Alex Bentley will be introduced to Nittany Nation during the free preseason event.
"I’m excited to bring the energy and tradition of Penn State basketball back to Rec Hall for a night," Chambers said. "I’ve seen the passion and enthusiasm Penn State fans bring to that building and I think this is going to be an amazing event and lots of fun for everyone involved."
Doors to Rec Hall will open at 7:15 p.m. with "Hoops Madness" beginning at 8:00 p.m. One fan in attendance will be chosen at random for a chance to make a half court shot to win $10,000. Contests and door prizes will give fans the chance to take home numerous other prizes on the night, including free books for the spring semester and free laundry for a year.
The event will feature the Pride of Lions Pep Band, Lionettes dance team, Penn State Cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion all leading up to introductions and performances by both teams and a special performance from Fabolous. Rec Hall will be bouncing with music, highlight videos and crowd participation events.
Both Nittany Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams reached the NCAA Tournament last season. The Nittany Lion program has been energized by new head coach Patrick Chambers, a Philadelphia native who guided Boston University to an America East Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance last year and helped build Villanova into a 2009 NCAA Final Four participant while serving as the Wildcat’s associate head coach to Jay Wright. The Lady Lion program, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Coquese Washington, returns four starters and was selected earlier this week as the favorite to win the Big Ten this year as well as being ranked among the top 15 teams in the nation in preseason polls.
Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-865-5555 or by filling out an application at GoPSUsports.com/tickets. Season tickets for Nittany Lion Basketball are $200 for adults, $170 for faculty/staff and seniors, $80 for youth (18 and under) and $59 for students. Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are $117 for adults, $91 for faculty/staff and seniors and $52 for youth. Penn State students will be admitted for free to Lady Lion basketball games beginning this season. PNC Flex Books are also available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions’ Coaches Vs. Cancer game on Feb. 11 vs. Nebraska and the Lady Lions’ WBCA Pink Zone game on Feb. 26 vs. Minnesota.