If there were ever a time to play a complete game, the Penn State men's basketball team would like it to be tomorrow afternoon against Seton Hall.

The Pirates (5-1) are not one of the Big East conference elite, but they are a relatively more competitive "shirt" -- the term Penn State coach Ed DeChellis adheres to opponents -- than many of the teams the Nittany Lions have played this season.

That's why the Lions (6-2) are treating tomorrow's 1 p.m. game in East Rutherford, N.J., like the one they played a little more than a week ago at nationally ranked Georgia Tech.

"It's a big game that we need to win," said junior Geary Claxton.

Claxton said yesterday the right hand he broke more than a month ago is finally close to being 100 percent.

The preseason All-Big Ten pick practiced without an apparatus on the hand yesterday for the first time since returning to the floor Nov. 25 against St. Joseph's and doesn't anticipate playing with one tomorrow.

"I had to adjust with the brace on, now I have to adjust without it," Claxton said.

While Claxton is close to returning to his pre-injury form, the Lions suffered another setback Wednesday night, when leading scorer Jamelle Cornley sprained his ankle during the second half of Penn State's one-point win against Hartford.

Cornley did not practice yesterday and DeChellis said it is possible that he will not play tomorrow.

If the sophomore, who has led the team in scoring in five games this season, is unable to play, forwards Brandon Hassell and Milos Bogetic will have increased minutes. DeChellis also mentioned that Joonas Suotamo could see time.

Penn State could also play four guards with the post player of choice.

"That's what we're going to try to figure out in practice here today," DeChellis said yesterday.

The physical health of individuals aside, the Lions would like to put the kind of game together against Seton Hall that would boost the collective mental health of the team.

"It will be good for us to get on the road, come together as a team and really put together a solid 40 minutes against good competition, and show how good we really are," senior guard Ben Luber said.

Penn State gave up a 10-point first-half lead to Hartford on Wednesday, and led by four at the half. Then it built an 11-point lead midway through the second half, but allowed the America East conference Hawks to get within one field goal of a win. Hartford had the ball in the last possession, but was unable to convert a shot.

"We've kind of let one mistake lead into another mistake, lead into another mistake," DeChellis said, citing turnovers and poor ball control on offense. "The next thing you know the lead's gone and the other team's made a run."

Notes & quotes: Claxton said he is expecting about 200 familiar faces in the crowd at Continental Airlines Arena, largely family and friends from New Jersey, New York and his home state of Connecticut. ... Penn State and Seton Hall have one common opponent this season in Morgan State, which the Lions defeated by nine points last Saturday. The Pirates beat Morgan State by 20 points on Nov. 25. ... Prior to practice yesterday, Bogetic worked on his 3-point shot, and at one point made nine straight. ... Claxton on the brace he had been wearing: "I hope they did throw it out."