One in a row.

That's the mark the men's basketball team will be shooting for when it takes the floor tonight against St. Bonaventure at 7:30 in Rec Hall.

Last week, Rutgers ended the Lions 24-game unbeaten home streak with a 79-78 win at the historic gym.

For Penn State (13-7, 6-5) this Atlantic 10 contest couldn't come at a better time. In a year when the Lions have found almost every A-10 opponent a challenge, they face the one team that has been an easy target this season.

The Bonnies (4-17, 0-13) are the only A-10 team mathematically eliminated from the regular season crown in a wide-open conference race. St. Bonaventure has experienced its share of misfortune, suffering a myriad of injuries in Coach Tom Chapman's second season in Olean, N.Y.

The Bonnies were without the services of senior forward Michael Burnett in the first contest with the Lions, a 89-54 Penn State romp on Jan. 8. Penn State has won four straight and seven of the last nine meetings between the schools.

"It doesn't matter who we're playing. There's a lot of parity going around the league -- we can't say that we're better than anyone else," forward James Barnes said. "We can't assume anything. We've got to play well and get back on track."

This time around, Burnett will bring his 12.3 points per game average to Rec Hall, but senior guard Quinn Smith and freshman forward Tobias Hauff will be sidelined. Smith suffered a concussion in a game against George Washington, while Hauff is mending a broken wrist.

With Hauff out, the Lions should be able to assert themselves inside. Center Kerrick Hamilton is flanked by Burnett, only 6'4" at one forward, and replacement Rob Williams.

The inside play of center Dave Degitz should get a boost against a Bonnie defense allowing a 48 percent opponent field goal percentage this season. Forward James Barnes averages over 11 points against St. Bonaventure, scoring 27 at Rec Hall last season.

For the Lions, defense also continues to loom as the main concern. Penn State opponents are shooting 47 percent from the floor this season. Defensive breakdowns halted several Lion rallies Sunday against George Washington.

As the Lions prepare for the stretch run of the season and the long climb back among the A-10 leaders, they look forward to the start of this three-game home stand with St Bonaventure, St. Joseph's and Temple.

"We need this game to get the good feeling back. You hate to say it but it's one of those must wins," Coach Bruce Parkhill said. "Just being at home, hopefully, will make a difference."

With seven games left, the Lions find themselves in sixth place, but only two games behind Temple (8-3). The Owls lost to St. Joe's last night in Philadelphia, 66-60. Only four games separate the first and ninth place teams in the A-10.

"It's a league race where anything can happen -- we're certainly not out of the hunt yet," Parkhill said. "It's been the kind of year where it just depends which (Penn State) team shows up. If the team is ready to play then that's the bottom line."

That concern is no more evident than when looking back on the Lions' past week of play.

Penn State played brilliantly at times against Rutgers, rallying from a 14-point deficit only to lose 79-78 to the Scarlet Knights. Then, the Lions swept into the WVU Coliseum and swept the season series with West Virginia, ending the Mountaineers' 21-game home winning streak.

But, they failed to carry the momentum of that game to the nation's capital, losing 83-70 to George Washington in a lackluster Lion effort.

"In past seasons, we would win like three or four (games) in a row. This year, it seems like we win two and then lose one -- it doesn't seem like we've had any momentum," guard Freddie Barnes said.

"Once you start winning the team gets a collective attitude that you feel like you can't lose. Things start to go your way and you have more confidence," he added. "This is the time to get it started because if not, it's going to be too late."