GAME NOTES: The red-hot Penn State Nittany Lions and the Drexel Dragons are set to square off in a non-conference tilt at the newly-opened PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Penn State has won eight in a row dating back to the Charleston Classic a month ago. At 10-1, the Nittany Lions are off to their best start since 1995-96. They beat George Washington at home this past Sunday, 64-51.

Meanwhile, Drexel is trying to stave off a fourth consecutive loss. Most recently, the Dragons were on the wrong end of an 80-70 final at Buffalo on Tuesday. They will break for eight days following this tilt until opening a three-game homestand against Iona next Monday.

PSU is 4-0 all-time against Drexel, although this marks the first meeting between these two teams since 1992-93.

The Nittany Lions held GW to 34-percent shooting from the floor, including 0- for-8 from beyond the arc, on Sunday. The Colonials entered that matchup averaging nearly 74 points but were held to 51 by Penn State's swarming defense. Jordan Dickerson was a menace in the paint, accounting for six of PSU's 11 blocks for the game. Offensively, D.J. Newbill led the way with 20 points while Brandon Taylor finished with 17 and eight rebounds. Shep Garner also reached double figures with 10 points.

On the season, Newbill leads the Big Ten Conference in scoring with 21.9 ppg to go along with 5.3 rebounds. Garner (10.5 ppg) and Taylor (10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) have also made steady contributions.

Drexel went scoreless for a key three-minute stretch on Tuesday night, during which Buffalo turned a four-point lead into a 61-49 cushion. The Dragons never got within seven the rest of the way, as they shot just 2-of-10 from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes. Damion Lee made only 2-of-10 threes for the game, though he did lead all scorers with 24 points and a pair of steals. Rashann London and Tavon Allen joined him in double figures with 17 and 10 points, respectively.

Lee is currently the top scorer in the Colonial Athletic Association with 20.7 ppg through nine starts. The junior guard has displayed a solid all-around game, shooting at a 42-percent clip from the perimeter, 85 percent from the foul line, and averaging 5.7 rebounds.

It will be interesting to see who gets the better of the Newbill-Lee matchup between the top scorers of their respective conferences. But Newbill has the far better supporting cast. The Nittany Lions should spend the second half in cruise control.