Usually in the world of post-season basketball, the rule is lose once and you're done.

And although single elimination is the accepted style in most tournament play, the men's basketball team (24-9) will continue playing and meet New Mexico (20-13) at 6:30 tonight at Madison Square Garden. At stake is third place in the National Invitation Tournament.

"Personally, I can't stand consolation games," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "I don't understand why the NIT has them. But, it does give us the opportunity to show the way we can play. Hopefully, the guys can get motivated for this game and show some spark. The need to feel better about themselves in the last game of the season."

This is the best season a Parkhill-coached team has had. Only one other team in school history, the 1953-54 club, has made it this far in post-season play. That team finished third in the NCAA Tournament that year. But for modern Penn State basketball, this is a new experience.

"Although all of this has been exciting, we still have to concentrate game by game," Parkhill said.

The Lions come to tonight's game by virtue of Monday night's 75-62 loss to Vanderbilt. They were done in by dead-on 3-point shooting and vicious rebounding by the Commodores. The Lions were beaten at their own game of hustle, and hope the same thing doesn't happen tonight.

"I wasn't happy with our performance," center Ed Fogell said. "But we have another game to make up for it. That's what we have to keep focused on."

Fogell is the other reason the Lions' game tonight is especially noteworthy. It will be Fogell's last appearance in a Penn State uniform.

He is firmly ensconced in third place on the Lions' all-time scoring leaders' list with 1,306 points. His closest pursuer is Ron Brown (1,184), who played from 1972-74. Immediately in front of Fogell is Tom Hovasse (1,459), who graduated last year.

Fogell has played almost every game this season in its entirety, with several 40-minute appearances to his credit. Monday night was first time this season the Lions have lost when Fogell has played more than 35 minutes.

The Commodores managed to shut down Fogell, one of the few times such a thing has happened this season. But the season isn't over yet, and Fogell knows it. He has one more chance to shine.

"I'm trying not to look at (the end of my career) yet," Fogell said. "I figure I'll wait until it's all over and then reflect on it. We still have a job to do out there."

But Fogell wasn't the only record-setter in a Penn State uniform this season. The whole team set a few records of its own.

For example, this season's team has recorded more victories than any other basketball team in school history. This is also the only team to produce back-to-back 20-win seasons.

"I couldn't be prouder of these guys," Parkhill said. "With the season they have had they have every reason to be proud of themselves. I hope that's something they take with them after this is all over.