With the Pitt/Penn State rivalry comes the tradition, the intensity and the year-long bragging rights — in football anyway.

People have a hard time saying the same thing about basketball and it's no wonder why.

Before last night, the two programs had met once since 1982. Despite the series dating back to 1906, it's hard to keep the same enthusiasm for a matchup that hasn't taken place every year, not to mention every few years.

But that is in the process of changing right now.

The two universities have agreed to a four-year series, which started Wednesday night with a Penn State 88-74 victory.

"It's a good program," Panthers coach Ben Howland said. "They're in the Big Ten. They're two hours from Pittsburgh. We haven't recruited against each other much, but I think it's good for college basketball in Western Pennsylvania.

"That's why I pushed to have this series started up again.

"I think this is the third meeting in 18 years, which is really a sad commentary because we should play every year."

If the series works out, there is a chance that it might continue further. And that seems likely as long as there are similar outcomes to those of the past The two most recent contests before Wednesday went down to the final moments.

In 1982, the Lions and Panthers went to double overtime, with Penn State edging out the 52-46 victory. Ten years later, Pitt got revenge with a hard-fought 67-65 win.

Ironically, the latter was the last non-conference home loss by Penn State. It set the stage for a possible ending to the streak Wednesday, 51 games after the previous meeting.

With a career night by Lions senior Joe Crispin, the streak remained in tact. But the scenario added a little extra weight to a matchup that is trying to heat up into an intense rivalry just like football had been for so many years.

"I would like to think that it is still a rivalry," Penn State coach Jerry Dunn said.

"I'm not sure how much the guys really got caught up into playing Pitt. I know guys were excited about playing Pitt, but I didn't sense that there was an emotional type attitude."

Crispin agreed that he felt it was a rivalry, but he said it isn't quite the same in basketball.

"I think it's a rivalry just because it's Pitt and some of it carries over from football," Crispin said. "Any in-state schools, you battle on the recruiting grounds and you battle with these guys on the floor."

The rivalry will look to go to another level next year in Pittsburgh, especially with the football matchup no longer taking place.

And if both programs are lucky, there might be a special atmosphere to help that happen.

"I hope our new arena will be done in time," Howland said. "Maybe they (the Lions) can open it.

"That would be a nice home opener."