On a night when the men's basketball team got such positive pregame news about its future, it was only fitting that someone made history. It was too bad for the Lions that player was Rutgers forward Keith Hughes.

Prior to the game Penn State announced Gov. Robert P. Casey released funds for the design and planning of convocation and events center.

But Hughes 40 points broke a the 20-year-old record of Ohio University's Walter Luckett (37 points) for most points scored by an opponent in Rec Hall. In doing so, Hughes led the Scalet Knights (12-6 and 7-3 in the Atlantic 10) to a 79-78 victory over the Lions (12-6, 5-4), ending their Rec Hall winning streak at 24.

"Keith Hughes had the finest performance of any player I've ever coached in the college game," Rutgers' coach Bob Wenzel said. "He was in that zone."

That zone saw Hughes single-handedly dismantle the Lions' defense in the first half. He hit 8-of-12 (67 percent) field goals for 23 of his team's 45 first-half points. In a three-minute, first-half stretch Hughes scored 11 straight points.

"My shot was falling," Hughes said. "I missed the first couple but after that it seemed like I couldn't miss."

The 6'9", 235-pound Hughes had no problem moving outside for the 3-point shot. For the game Hughes hit 5-of-7 3-pointers -- many of which came from well over 21 feet.

"He was very hot," Penn State forward DeRon Hayes said, "especially from outside. We knew he could hit the 3-point shot, but he was killing us."

Hughes proved he was human in the second half. The Lions clamped on the defensive pressure forcing him to miss seven straight shots.

"They stepped up their 'D' a little bit more. They pressured me," Hughes said. "Everytime I tried to move to the basket they kept elbowing me . . . (James) Barnes is a big guy and he came out and pressured me as far out as the top of the key."

"We tried to help out more and deny him the ball," Hayes said. "We were able to deny him the ball most of the time in the second half."

Still Hughes was able to hit 14-of-26 shots -- 5-of-7 from beyond the 3-point line -- while pulling down a team-leading nine rebounds.

"Hughes looked like an NBA all-star tonight," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "He had an outstanding game."

Parkhill's understatement may not be far from the truth. Hughes, who wore a Pheonix Suns hat to the post-game press conference, has the size and the shot that attract NBA scouts. But Hughes said that is the furthest thing from his mind.

"I really don't get into that," he said. "I just try to go out on the court, play Rutgers basketball and try to win. I let that take care of itself."

Hughes transferred from Syracuse with teammate Earl Duncan after the 1987-88 season. After sitting out the 1988-89 season, he averaged 18.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last year. He was averaging 19.2 and 10.2 rebounds prior to last night's game. The Carteret, N.J. native is glad he came home.

"I love the coach. I'm home," Hughes said. "My teammates are great. I couldn't be happier."