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GAME NOTES: Still in search of their first Big Ten win of the season, the struggling Penn State Nittany Lions make the trip to Columbus this evening, for a conference showdown against the 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

Thad Matta's Buckeyes are still in the hunt for the conference crown, having won two straight and five of their last six games. The team made light work of Minnesota on Sunday (85-63) to move to 6-3 in league play.

Ed DeChellis' Nittany Lions are in a horrific slump, having lost nine straight games, all in-conference. The team's last victory came against Gardner-Webb on December 19th. Most recently, the team was handled by nationally-ranked Purdue on Sunday, 66-46.

The Buckeyes hold a sizeable lead in the all-time series, thanks to wins in each of the last 11 meetings. In addition, OSU has won six straight in Columbus, with PSU's last win on the road in this series coming back in 2001.

Not much has gone right for the Nittany Lions this season, as the team is averaging a rather bland 65.3 ppg on just .424 shooting. Scoring depth is non- existent, with only All-Big Ten guard Talor Battle representing any real threat. Battle does it all for Penn State and is one of the rare players in the country that leads his team in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (5.3 rpg), assists (76) and steals (25). The scoring pool dries up fast after Battle, with David Jackson ranking second on the team with a mere 8.6 ppg. It was another case of too much firepower for the opposition and not enough for Penn State, as the Nittany Lions dropped a 20-point decision to Purdue over the weekend. Battle netted 13 points in the setback, followed by Jackson's 11 and Bill Edwards' 10. However, the team finished with a mere 46 total points, on .313 shooting, including a meager 3-of-17 from behind the arc (.176).

The Buckeyes are not an offensive juggernaut by any stretch of the imagination (74.9 ppg), but the team makes every trip down the floor count, converting an efficient 50 percent of its shots. It certainly helps to have one of the nation's most complete players back on the floor and healthy. Junior swingman Evan Turner missed time with a back injury this year, but is back on the floor and picking up where he left off. One of the most complete players in the game, the All-American candidate leads Ohio State in scoring (18.4 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg) and assists (91). Turner gets plenty of offensive support as well, with three other starters averaging double digits in William Buford (14.0 ppg), Jon Diebler (13.3 ppg) and David Lighty (12.9 ppg). The Buckeyes were red-hot against Minnesota, converting a ridiculous 63 percent from the floor in a 22-point romp. Buford led the way with a career-high 26 points. Turner and Diebler poured in 19 points apiece and Lighty chipped in with 11.

Two of the Big Ten's best will be on display in Turner and Battle. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, they have no one else behind Battle, while Turner gets the full support of his teammates. The Buckeyes should have no trouble getting the win here and continuing their run in conference play.