For 35 years there has been a cease-fire between Pitt and Penn State.

Since then, athletic competitions between the two schools have been friendly, peaceful, and even enjoyable.

At least that's been the case in men's gymnastics.

Away meets at Pitt have been anything but hostile for the Lions. In fact, Coach Karl Schier said the meet at 2 tomorrow should be an opportunity for the Lions to turn in a solid team score.

"They are a very nice, very cordial team," Schier said. "It's always an excellent environment for a meet. The teams get along very well and normally we score very well there because of that."

After Pitt, the No. 6 Lions will travel to Houston next weekend where they will meet Houston-Baptist and Oklahoma.

The team is looking to better its 272.10 away score tallied in Iowa. Two away scores will be added into the average score used to determine which teams qualify for regional competition. Since the Lions are 35-0 against the Panthers, they hope Pittsburgh will be the ideal place.

"We're really motivated this week," Karl Abraham said. "We know that no one is far ahead of us. We're really psyched for Pittsburgh and that's been a great place for us. So hopefully that will boost us up in the rankings a little bit."

Houston Baptist (1-2), usually a perennial favorite at NCAAs, has lost some of its spark this season. The Lobos' two top all-arounders -- Miguel Rubio and Alfonso Rodriquez, both of Spain -- are ineligible for the 1990 season due to NCAA allegations against the University.

The school was cited for purchasing airline tickets so that the two could return to Spain for Olympic competition and also for allowing the two to live in the dormitories before the semester began.

Consequently, Oklahoma is the team to contend with for the Lions. The Sooners are ranked seventh, just below Penn State, and will be a team to battle in April at the NCAA Championships.

"I might go as far as to put them on the same level as us," Sohn said. "If we don't hit, they're going to come right in and take us. There's a bit of pressure there, but it'll be a good meet. Having Oklahoma there is just going to give us a broader view of the competition at nationals and it's great to meet them on a neutral floor."

Last week, the Lions produced their most perfect meet this season with a season-high 277.90. Fourteen members of the team recorded season bests, led by freshman Jim Delaney, who improved on all of the six events. The team also bettered its performance on pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar.

Now, the Lions intend to use the break -- especially the Pitt meet -- as a period of transition. Just a little over six weeks away from regional competition, the team needs to start changing routines to add more difficulty.

"A lot of the routines we're trying to extend into what we'll have to have in the NCAAs to do well," Schier said. "We're healthy enough to do that, in most cases. So the routines will start to pick up an additional D move wherever necessary or some rearranging to incorporate some originality."