The crowd had to be wondering if the game was going to be a forfeit Friday night at The Bryce Jordan Center.

While the Penn State men's basketball team participated in pregame warmups and then stood for the National Anthem, the opposite end of the court remained empty as gametime approached.

Nike Elite — a team consisting of former college players searching for professional jobs that entered the game 1-6 — chose to slowly walk on the floor immediately prior to the introductions with an aura of cockiness surrounding them.

Perhaps it intimidated the Lions as they looked tentative all night in a 86-66 loss to Nike.

"I think you're going to see some young mistakes," Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn said.

Nike went on runs of 12-2 and 13-1 in the first half and never really relinquished control of the game. The Lions trailed by as many as 25 points in the second half.

Penn State committed 22 turnovers and shot only 35 percent from the field and a paltry 50 percent from the foul line.

Nike head coach Glenn Sergent minced no words in his assessment of the Lions.

"It's going to be a long year," he said. "But you all knew that. You knew it before the season started."

Sophomore Jamaal Tate's 16 points paced the Lions. However, it came on a 5-for-19 shooting performance.

"I think I took a lot more shots, I was rushing shots this game," Tate said. "That's one thing I am going to have to work on, being a little more patient. I'm facing a different role this year. Last year I was more of a role player and this year I'm going to have to step up, but I rushed a lot of shots. I apologized to the team after the game because I was a little out of control."

Penn State got 11 points each from usual sources senior Tyler Smith and junior Brandon Watkins, but it also got an unexpected 11 points from true freshman center Jan Jagla.

The 6-foot-11 German added a team-high 12 rebounds and shot 3-for-4 from three-point range.

Despite the good numbers, Jagla feels he has a lot to work on.

"I made a lot of little mistakes today," he said. "The inside game wasn't there at all. It should get there as the season goes on."

Jagla was part of the starting lineup Friday, along with Smith, Watkins, Tate, and fellow freshman forward Darren Tielsch.

Dunn said that not much should be read into that, as he is experimenting with different combinations, trying to see what he has.

"I'm sure there are going to be some combinations that were a little more effective than others," Dunn said. "I'd like to use these two (exhibition) games, in particular because we do have so much youth and new faces that we can get a feel of what everyone can do."

As Dunn mixed and matched, everyone on the team saw at least some minutes, but the Lions were led in court time by top returnees such as Tate, Smith, and Watkins.

Forwards B.J. Vossekuil and Ndu Egekeze saw limited action, as both are nursing injuries. Dunn termed Egekeze — a projected starter — at "60 percent" healthy.

Forward Rick Hughes led Nike in scoring with 18 points. Center Will Trawick entertained the crowd with his long hair and highlight-reel dunks. The former San Jose State player finished with 10 points.

But the most recognizable member of Nike was former Florida Gator Ted Dupay. The point guard, who was declared ineligible by the NCAA in an alleged gambling violation, had 10 points and seven assists while playing a game-high 36 minutes.

Although the Lions lost the game, Dunn said that one of the goals he set for the team this year was to improve on rebounding, so he had to be pleased that Penn State outrebounded Nike, 42-40.

"You know what that shows is effort," Sergent said. "As far as I am concerned, they get a 10 for effort tonight. And they're going to make everyone work."

The 51-year coaching veteran was impressed with the way the Lions cut a lead that was at one stage 22, all the way down to nine points three minutes into the second half.

"I was just saying to myself, 'Those kids are out there busting their rear ends,' " Sergent said. "They were hustling their butts off. They're not as talented as they used to be, but you lost a lot of people last year."