It won't be a slam dunk, but the University is dribbling down the court toward accepting higher bids for construction of the Bryce Jordan Center.

The latest bids ranged from $50.3 million to $55.5 million, a higher price than the University was prepared to pay, but lower than amounts from the first bidding round this summer.

The University and the state Department of General Services rejected bids in August for the 16,500-seat convocation center because the lowest one stood about $11 million more than expected.

Changes in materials and products to be used in the construction of the convocation center lowered the new bids, said William McKinnon, associate vice president for business and operations. The center's main structure has not been changed or downsized, he said.

Although officials would have preferred lower bids, McKinnon said he is confident the University will be able to work with the bids received.

In construction bids, the lowest, at about $35 million, came from Lott Constructors of Harleysville. The company's summer bid was $40 million, which is about $1,200 more than the highest bid in this round. The highest bid came from Dick Enterprises in Pittsburgh. Adding bids for plumbing, electricity and mechanical aspects raises the bids to the $50 million range.

But the University and the state have only budgeted about $54 million for the center -- $44.88 million for on-site construction costs and the remainder for other expenses.

John Cosgrove, spokesman for the Department of General Services, said the state will not increase funding beyond $33.8 million. The University will have to make up the difference, he said.

University fundraising efforts collected about $22 million and $1.4 million was added to the original $20 million, McKinnon said. Administrators will be discussing bid funding in the next several weeks, he said.