For the first time since March 1, 1989 the men's basketball team (12-6, 5-4 in the Atlantic 10) will try to rebound from a home loss when the Lions face West Virginia (10-7, 6-3) at 7:30 tonight in Morgantown, W.Va.

Ironically, West Virginia was the last team to beat Penn State in Rec Hall (71-61 two years ago). Twenty-four wins later, behind Rutgers' forward Keith Hughes' 40 points, the Scarlet Knights beat the Lions, 79-78, on Monday.

"It's going to be very tough," Coach Bruce Parkhill said after the game. "West Virginia is incredible at their place. The guys are really going to have to dig deep and be mentally and physically tough."

Rebounding from its first home loss in almost two years may be the least of the Penn State's problems. The Lions must play in the raucous WVU Coliseum, where they have not won since Jan. 16, 1980.

The fact that Penn State hasn't won at the Coliseum is no indication of its teams over the last decade -- nobody has won there consistently. The 'Eers are 248-63 (79.7 percent) since the building opened in 1970 and have won 21 straight. They are 9-0 in the Coliseum this year.

"It's a tough place to play because the crowd is wild," Lions' leading scorer DeRon Hayes said.

But in order for the Lions to be able to win they must get off to a good start, something they have not done much this season.

"It's important that we stay in the hunt early," Parkhill said. "The fans at West Virginia are tough -- it's rare that they're ever silent during a game."

The Lions nipped the Mountaineers, 90-88, Jan. 10 in a wild game at Rec Hall. Penn State fell behind by as much as 11 points in the second half but came back behind center C.J. Johnson's career-high 17 points.

In that game both Parkhill and Penn State guard Monroe Brown were called for technical fouls. West Virginia coach Gale Catlett refused to talk to the media after the game.

West Virginia is led by 6'6", 230-pound senior forward Chris Brooks, who is averaging 17.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Both are team bests.

The Lions were able to eliminate Brooks in the first matchup. He got two early fouls and scored just six points in limited duty.

"Brooks is tough in the middle," Parkhill said. "It's important that we control him."

Behind Brooks the Mountaineers are relatively young. Two freshmen start and four more see considerable playing time.

Freshman point guard Mike Boyd (13.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game) is a great penetrator. While freshman forward Pirvires Greene (11.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was the Mountaineers' leading scorer in the first game against the Lions with 17.

Junior Chris Leonard (13.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) starts at off-guard and is West Virginia's greatest 3-point threat.

Catlett has made one change in the starting lineup since the two teams last matchup. Sophomore forward Jeremy Bodkin (4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) replaces senior Charles Becton (10.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg).

West Virginia is also coming off a loss. George Washington beat the 'Eers, 97-87, Tuesday night in Washington, D.C.

Hayes knows they will have incentive.

"They're going to come out real pumped up and the crowd is going to help them out," he said. "So we're going to have to come out even more pumped up . . . it would be a good win for us to go down there and beat them."

Hayes continues to be Penn State's leading scorer. He is averaging 16.1 points per game. The Lions other forward James Barnes is the team leader in rebounds with 6.6 a game.

Notes: Penn State has announced that all student tickets for the Lions' home basketball gmes with St. Joseph's (Feb. 9) and Temple (Feb. 13) have been distributed.