PENN STATE - 2009 NIT CHAMPS

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Penn State Wins 2009 NIT Championship

The second ever postseason championship for Penn State's men's basketball team was earned on April 2nd, 2009. Jamelle Cornley, Stanley Pringle, Talor Battle and the rest of the team vanquished the Baylor Bears, 69-63, in Madison Square Garden tonight to capture the programs first NIT Championship. Penn State played in the finals once before, losing to Minnesota in 1998. This was Penn State's first postseason tournament berth since thei trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2001.

Penn State's Jeff Brooks looks for a pass in Thursday's NIT Championship Game in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

As I alluded to earlier, Penn State fans turned Madison Square Garden into a home court advantage.

Penn State turned the NIT championship game into a party, and several thousand Nittany Lions fans sure seemed like the hosts.

...the Nittany Lions (27-11), who were spurred on by raucous chants of "We are ... Penn State," led by none other than Joe Paterno, the 82-year-old football coach sitting about four rows behind the team's bench.

-- ESPN

Penn State senior Stanley Pringle guards Baylor's Curtis Jerrells during the 2009 NIT Championship Game. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The raucous crowd watched as Penn State fell behind Baylor at the half. However, in a fashion that was typical for the Nittany Lions this season they stormed back and seized control in the second half. Cornley had 18 points, Battle 12, and Pringle and David Jackson 10 each. The balanced effort propelled the Lions as their up tempo game and stifling defense was too much for the Bears, who hadn't won an NIT game since 1950 before this year.

Congratulations to coach Ed DeChellis, the seniors, and the players who will return next year. You've set the bar high guys. Let's do it again!

Second half rally propels Penn State to NIT title | ESPN
Cornley leads Penn State to NIT tournament title | Associated Press
Penn State wins NIT! | Zombie Nation
PENN STATE 2009 CHAMPIONS!!! | Nittany White Out

Penn State, Baylor Face Off for NIT Championship Tonight

Penn State senior forward Jamelle Cornley has the right attitude towards tonight's game.

"Any time you are able to play for a championship, regardless of the circumstances, you really want to leave all that you have on the table," Cornley said.

Especially when your program has never won one.

-- Big Ten Network

Cornley and the Nittany Lions (26-11) face off against the Baylor Bears at Madison Square Garden tonight at 7 PM. The Bears (24-14), who were left for dead after losing 10 of their final 12 games in the regular season, did enough in the Big XII Tournament to warrant a selection to the NIT. Beating top seed Kansas and then reaching the championship game will do that for ya. Now they're playing for a different kid of championship - a postseason one. Penn State has their sights set on that too.

They won't be alone. The university is sending 33 38 buses to New York, filled with students and alumni ready to cheer on their hoops team.

There are at least 33 buses leaving from State College carrying Penn State fans to New York today for the 2009 NIT Championship Game. (from PSUSportsMuseum's Twitter account)

The fans load the buses. Bring home that title! (from PSUSportsMuseum's Twitter account)

Penn State needed a last second three from Talor Battle - and OT - to defeat George Mason in the opening round. Since then Penn State has been in control. They beat Rhode Island in the second round and then Florida, in Gainesville, to advance to the NIT Final Four. On Tuesday Penn State dominated Notre Dame for the first 30 minutes before the Irish mounted a comeback. Fortunately the Nittany Lions held on for the win.

Baylor, after gaining momentum from their Big XII Tournament run, opened the NIT as a three seed and beat Georgetown by two. They then went on the road to beat two see Virginia Tech and the one seed Auburn before vanquishing San Diego State in New York on Tuesday.

Each title game team is not known for its basketball. But each is making a name for themselves now, with bigger eyes towards the future.

Baylor, Penn State to meet for NIT title | Big Ten Newtork
NIT Final preview: Penn State vs. Baylor; Dave Jones a homer| William World News

Nittany Lions Head to NIT Finals

Though the some fans remain disappointed about the Penn State basketball team being left out of the NCAA Tournament, the players seem to be fine. Sure, they would have loved to be in the field but more than likely their postseason play would have lasted a game, maybe two. In the NIT things have been different.

After a scare versus George Mason to open the tournament, Penn State has controlled their games. Sure there was some shoddy play in the first half against Florida, but they won. And that's all that matters. Last night in Madison Square Garden versus Notre Dame - a team once ranked 7th in the nation and part of the heralded Big East Conference - the team played with passion and a sense of urgency.

Penn State beat the Fighting Irish 67-59 in front of thousands of Penn State fans. The ESPN announcing crew, who at one point was interviewing Joe Paterno, stated that the university had chartered 17 buses to get fans to New York. The Nittany Lions dominated the first half, leading 31-18 at the break. Notre Dame's 18 points in the half tied a season low. The Penn State defense was stifling and the Irish players shots were off the mark. In the first half at least.


Halfway through the second half Penn State led by 17. Five minutes later the lead was 3. Fortunately Penn State woke up and was able to hold on for the win and a berth in the 2009 NIT Finals. Penn State will face Baylor, who beat San Diego State, on Thursday at 7 PM for the NIT Championship.

Sure the NIT is a consolation prize. But don't tell the players. Jamelle Cornley, Stanley Pringle, Talor Battle, and the rest of the team are playing their best basketball at the best time. Now they can do something that Penn State has never done - win a postseason title.

PSU Holds Off Domers, Advances to NIT Championship Game | Nittany White Out
Men's Basketball in NIT Final | Nittanydelphia
Penn State Downs Notre Dame - Advances to NIT Finals | Black Shoe Diaries
Battle, Jones Lead Penn State to NIT Title Game | ESPN