UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Nittany Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams will once again be joined by a top selling music artist as they celebrate the beginning of the 2012-13 basketball season with the second annual Hoops Madness presented by the Penn State Bookstore, Thursday, Oct. 25, in Rec Hall.
The former home of Penn State basketball will shake with hoops hysteria as 2012 BET Best New Artist of the Year Big Sean performs at the annual season tip-off event. The night will also feature a performance from Penn State’s own Mike Wallz with a special guest. Doors to Rec Hall will open at 6:30 p.m. with Hoops Madness beginning at 7:30 p.m. Student season ticket holders will get early admittance at 6:15. The first 300 fans through the doors will receive a free Hoops Madness t-shirt.
Rec Hall will be bouncing with music and highlight videos as fans can participate in contests and enjoy the Pride of Lions Pep Band, Lionettes dance team, Penn State Cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion all leading up to introductions and dance performances by both teams and a special performance from Big Sean. 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.
Nittany Lion coach Patrick Chambers and the 2012-13 Nittany Lions led by All-Big Ten guard Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) and Lady Lion coach Coquese Washington and her defending Big Ten Champion Lady Lion team led by All-Big Ten guard Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) will be introduced to Nittany Nation during the free preseason event. Last year’s first annual Hoops Madness event drew thousands to Rec Hall and saw Grammy nominated rapper Fabolous perform for more than an hour as the Rec Hall bleachers bounced.
After several successful mixtape releases, Detroit rapper Big Sean released his first studio album, Finally Famous, in June of 2011. The album spawned three hit singles including "My Last" and "Marvin & Chardonnay" and featured guest appearances from Lupe Fiasco, John Legend, Pharrell, Kanye West, and Wiz Khalifa among others. In 2012, he released "Mercy", the lead single from the GOOD Music compilation album, Cruel Summer.
The Nittany Lions return four players that started at least 16 games last year and 70 percent of their scoring. Joining Frazier, who finished second in the Big Ten at 18.8 ppg, in a strong backcourt will be junior guard Jermaine Marshall (Etters, Pa.), who posted 10.8 ppg, and Southern Mississippi transfer D.J. Newbill (Philadelphia, Pa.), who sat out last season after posting 9.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg as a freshman for the Golden Eagles in 2010-11. The Lady Lions return four starters from last season’s Big Ten Championship team that reached the NCAA "Sweet 16" led by All-Americans Bentley and Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.). Bentley and Lucas are both on the 2013 Wade Watch List for the nation’s top women’s basketball player after earning honorable mention All-America honors and first team All-Big Ten accolades a year ago.
Basketball season tickets are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting GoPSUsports.com/tickets. Nittany Lion basketball season ticket pricing for lower bowl seats between the baselines (Sections 104-107 and 121-124) remained unchanged from the previous season at $200. All other lower bowl and upper deck season ticket seats have been priced at $180. Penn State student season tickets are $40. Lady Lion season tickets are $99 for adults. Penn State students are admitted free to all Lady Lion basketball games. Both programs offer a $50 youth (12 and under) season ticket, which includes a Nittany Lion Kids Club membership for 2012-13. Included in the season ticket holder benefits package for both teams is also a season long complimentary parking pass (a $75 value) good for all Bryce Jordan Center lots.
PNC Flex Books are priced at $99 again this year. 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, scheduled for Sat., Jan. 16 vs. Ohio State, and the Lady Lions’ Pink Zone game, set for Sun., Feb. 24 vs. Michigan.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Associate Athletic Communications Director Brian Siegrist on Twitter (@PSUSTRETCH) and check GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatebasketball.
