In an era where egos and superstars dominate college basketball and the number of underclassmen completing their education grows fewer and fewer by the day, Penn State is an exception to the rule.

Joe Crispin, Gyasi Cline-Heard and Titus Ivory are dedicated as much to this Penn State basketball team as Joe Paterno has always been to Penn State football.

All three are seniors this season, and each is expected to leave State College with a degree. In fact Ivory already got his degree last May.

These three players who are playing their best basketball in the twilight of their career here are making the biggest impact when their team needs them the most.

"We don't know when the season is going to end," Ivory said. "I haven't even thought about it. As long as we keep winning I know we're going to keep on playing together like brothers."

Things have not always been the best between the three. Each of them has taken their own road to get to where they are today.

Crispin's path has gone from shooting until they turned the lights out above the gymnasium floor to finding inner-peace inside himself through Christianity. During the times when the team has struggled this season, Joe took a different approach than he once did.

"I used to shoot all the time and try to work harder. Now I really don't do much of anything," he said earlier this season after tough loss to Wisconsin.

At times, his own players criticized Crispin for not passing the ball enough. Certain teammates throughout much of last season argued about Joe's shot selection.

Now it seems he looks first and then shoots. Despite leading the Big Ten in scoring with just 20 points per contest, he has changed his style of play a little bit and the whole team appears to be benefiting. Crispin's peace within himself has taught him to rely on his teammates to come through down the stretch and this has made his senior year something special.

"We're having some fun and we're still hungry," Crispin said.

The soft-spoken Ivory's path to where he is today took a turn in an unexpected direction as a sophomore, when he lost his best friend, his father, in the spring of 1998. Considered the heart and soul of this year's team by Penn State head coach Jerry Dunn, Ivory plays with the hustle and desire that has Penn State fans on their feet and captures the same emotion that would make any father proud.

"Titus is one of the finest young men I have ever coached," Dunn said earlier this year. "I am very proud of him."

While Cline-Heard has been a part of the ups and downs of college basketball, he has moved past the label of "Gar Heard's son" — his father being a former NBA player, something that stuck with him throughout high school and enabled him to become his own man.

This season, he has exceeded all expectations that were set for him. He has made foul shots on a consistent basis, which was something he struggled with in the past. He also has given Penn State an inside presence many thought the Lions would be without have after the departure of Jarrett Stephens.

Cline-Heard has proven to himself and his teammates that he can handle the pressure late in game and lives in no one's shadow.

Cline-Heard, Crispin and Ivory are all in the final stages of their career's here at Penn State and are reaching points that at times might never have seemed possible, if they did not chose the paths they have taken.

"We have grown as seniors to say 'we can do this' and as seniors we can say we can step up and put these younger guys in a situation where we can make this whole entire program a success," Ivory said.

In an era where the NBA and money are criticized for ruining college basketball, these three players have worked as team and are now exceeding expectations no one would have ever believed in November.