Penn State Men’s Basketball to battle Indiana at The Palestra

Penn State men’s basketball has unveiled another addition to its 2024-25 schedule with the announcement of a Big Ten clash against Indiana inside The Palestra, per CBS reporter Jon Rothstein.

The matchup is expected to be set for Sunday, January 5, 2025, and will mark the third straight season the Nittany Lions have played a game at the Cathedral of College Basketball.

The Palestra is home to the University of Pennsylvania Quakers men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as the volleyball teams, wrestling team and Philadelphia Big 5 basketball.

It was opened on January 1, 1927, and is the oldest major college arena still in use today. The arena has hosted more games, visiting teams and NCAA Tournaments than any other facility.

Penn State defeated Michigan 79-73 inside The Palestra on January 7, 2024. A 52-point second half fueled the Nittany Lions after trailing by 10 at halftime.

Guard Ace Baldwin Jr. led the way for the blue and white with 25 points, four assists and three steals in 37 minutes of action.

The Nittany Lions suffered a 76-63 loss to top-ranked Purdue at The Palestra during the 2022-23 season.

Former Nittany Lion and current Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett had a stellar performance with 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Penn State played its first game in The Palestra on January 27, 1927, and owns a 25-37 record in 62 games played in the City of Brotherly Love.

Indiana will become the fifth Big Ten matchup that Penn State has clashed with at The Palestra, joining Michigan State in 2017, Iowa in 2020, Purdue in 2023 and Michigan in 2024.

The 2024-25 season will mark the second season under head coach Mike Rhoades after a 16-17 record in year one.

The Nittany Lions will travel three other times during the season with a trip to CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore to face Virginia Tech, a journey to Daytona Beach for the 2024 Sunshine Slam and a clash with in-state foe Drexel inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Penn State men’s hoops will open their 2024-25 season against Binghamton on Monday, Nov. 4 inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Thomas English is a fourth-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, email tfe5082@psu.edu.