Bruce Blake's days as a nice guy are over.

Plagued earlier in his collegiate career by what he called 'Nice Guy Syndrome,' the 6-8 forward has expanded his role to include scoring and floor leadership during this, his senior season.

"I didn't want to offend anybody," Blake said of his attitude in past years. He said he was "not able to recognize" how to improve his game in order to see more playing time.

Apparently Blake has recognized the ingredients to becoming a better basketball player this season. He said he needed to "be vocal, be aggressive, be positive, not be hesitant."

He should probably add scoring to that list because that's exactly what he's been doing a lot of lately.

Blake currently is the second-leading scorer for the Nittany Lions at 13.1 per game, behind Tom Hovasse's 18.5. The latest Atlantic 10 player of the week, Blake has accounted for 75 points in the last four games, three Penn State victories and one loss.

Coach Bruce Parkhill has often called upon his other players to respond offensively when defenses concentrate heavily on Hovasse. Blake has done that.

"If we're going to be a good team," Parkhill said, "we can't rely on one player. It's that simple."

Blake's career-high 30 points at Rhode Island on Jan. 15 matches Hovasse's season-high mark. And his 24 against St. Bonaventure two nights later brought him conference recognition.

"Right now we're going through a time when other teams are really trying to take Tommy out of it," Blake said. "Not just me, I think everyone else has to step up too."

After 18 games, Blake leads the team in steals (24) and in minutes played (511).

"We really kind of felt that last year he could emerge into a guy who would be a solid, steady player for us," Parkhill said. "Obviously we're elated that he's playing as well as he's playing."

For Blake, his quality of play this year is part of the progression he has made since arriving from Easton (Md.) High School. A high school honorable mention, All-America selection by USA Today, Blake said he chose Penn State for its academics, proximity to home and the chance to play immediately at the Division I level.

By his own admission, the transition from high school to college basketball was a difficult one. Blake said his problems included getting used to the "length of the season, always (being) tired, managing time, the level of play, (and) plays.

"In high school, you really don't run plays," he said.

The difficulty he encountered has made him a positive example for the younger players on the squad.

"I'm always trying to help them out," Blake said. "I know how hard it is as a freshman."

An athlete who said he has tried every sport, Blake decided on basketball because he likes its versatility and its "temperature control" -- the inside of Rec Hall never sees temperatures below 65.

"Bruce always had the athletic ability," Parkhill said. "He just had to make the adjustment to play Division I basketball and really, the main thing was he had to get confidence. I don't think that Bruce realized how good he could be."

He should know by now.

In his career performance against the Rams, Blake connected on 12-of-15 field goals. His 56 percent field goal shooting is complemented by 77.5 percent from the free throw line, fourth best in the A-10.

In an 80-78 Lions victory over St. Joe's last Saturday, Blake assisted on a Freddie Barnes 3-pointer and, on the next Penn State possession, his thunderous dunk at the 2:34 mark of the second half brought the crowd to its feet and ended the Hawks' upset bid.

"He really gives us a lift," Parkhill said. "When we're struggling, with Tommy not able to get his points, Bruce can really give us a big lift."

His recently improved play has even Blake stymied. "I don't know," he said. "Just working harder, I guess."

It seems his teammates are also working harder -- to get the ball into Blake's hands.

"Our kids are smart enough to know if a guy has it going, they give him an extra look," Parkhill said. "Bruce is playing with a lot of confidence now and he's been a leader. So I think the other kids do have a lot of confidence in his abilities."

Blake's role has changed not only over his years at Penn State, but during this season as well. In November and the beginning of December, he played the sixth man, sparking the team off the bench. Now a starter, he averages 34.5 minutes a game.

"All players want to start," Blake said. "But I felt if (being a sixth man) was to be my role, I would take it and do the best that I could."

That seems to be his personal, as well as his team's goal. Currently 11-7 overall and 7-3 in the conference, the Lions take on Rutgers (6-10, 4-3) at 7:30 tonight at Louis Brown Athletic Center and George Washington (1-16, 1-7) on Saturday in the nation's capital.

With nine regular season games remaining, the team wants to "finish up as strong as possible," Blake said. "(We want) to at least try to get 17 or 18 wins and go into the (A-10) tournament really high on ourselves."

For Blake and his fellow seniors, Hovasse, Brian Allen and Christian Appleman, who will conclude their collegiate basketball careers in a few weeks, that goal has deeper meaning.

"Really," Blake said, "our main goal, I think, would be just to go out every night and give it our all, not have any regrets."