Christian Appleman and Doug West first met on the basketball court in a sixth-grade tournament. Tonight, they'll meet again, but the stakes will be much higher.

Appleman and the Nittany Lions face West's Villanova Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. at duPont Pavilion in a game nationally televised on ESPN.

If the Lions win tonight, they will set a school record for wins in a season, breaking the 1951-52 and 1964-65 record of 20 victories.

For one of the above seniors, tonight will mark the end of his college career. The other will advance into the third round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Appleman, who went to Williamsburg High School, and West, from Altoona, have played against each other sporadically since junior high school, even teaming on a Blair County all-star squad during their senior seasons.

That was the same year Villanova shocked Georgetown for the national championship. West joined the 'Cats the following season.

Now, 'Nova (17-15) is having what many considered a disappointing season. Meanwhile, the Lions are finally tasting post-season success. And Appleman and his teammates would like nothing better than to knock off the Wildcats.

"With Villanova being in the Big East and always on TV, playing them is something I've always wanted to do," Appleman said. "They're a team which has garnered respect around the country, but we don't hold them in awe."

With the way the Lions (20-11) have been playing lately, they shouldn't.

Coach Bruce Parkhill's team was impressive in its NIT debut, disarming potentially explosive Murray State, 89-73, last Wednesday at Rec Hall.

"I think at this point in time, it's a question of going to your strengths and executing," Parkhill said. "That was the case in the Murray State game. The time for preparation is such that I think it's important to go out and do what we know we can do."

One thing the Lions will have to do tonight is play tough defense, keeping close watch on West (18 ppg), backcourt mate Kenny Wilson and 7' 1" center Tom Greis. Greis averages 14 points and six rebounds a game.

"I've seen them on television quite a bit, and I like their balance," Parkhill said. "Doug West is a pro. He's really dangerous. Greis will cause problems for us in the middle."

The tallest Lion to match up with Greis will be 6' 8" Ed Fogell, though Bruce Blake, James Barnes and Dave Degitz should help clog the middle.

Fogell, who played his best basketball of the season in the Atlantic 10 tournament at Philadelphia's Palestra March 4-6, returns home again tonight. The redshirt junior hails from Hatboro, just outside of Philly.

"He has to have a good game for us both offensively and defensively," Parkhill said. "Obviously it's a tough matchup for us (but) I think Eddie is capable of holding his own."

Despite having an off-night shooting against Murray State, Tom Hovasse, with 18 points and seven rebounds per game, still leads the Lions.

"He's 7' 2," Hovasse said of Greis. "I'm sure he's going to block some shots. (But) he's not the quickest man on the court."

Parkhill seems more concerned with how his players execute than about Greis.

"One of the biggest things about playing a guy like that is not making too big a deal out of it," he said.

The Wildcats may find themselves a little thin on the bench tonight with Wilson reportedly not starting because of a stress fracture in his foot. Freshman David Miller is slated to start in Wilson's place.