Penn State Basketball Close to Finalizing 2014 Game at PPL Center in Allentown

Penn State is still in the process of putting together their entire non-conference schedule - we know Bucknell, duqane, and three teams in the Charleston Classic field will be a part of their 2014-15 slate - but Pat Chambers today confirmed that the program is finalizing plans to play one of those games in the brand new PPL Center in Allentown, PA. The venue is the new home for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a minor-league affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, and it's scheduled to open in the fall. Update: Chambers revealed the game is set to be played Dec 22nd.

"It's close to being finalized," Chambers said Wednesday at the Coaches Caravan stop in Bethlehem. "We should be playing there right before Christmas."

"We wanted to help open up the new arena," added Chambers. "This is a great area for Penn State alums and fans. It's sometimes difficult to drive the two hours [editor's note: more like three] to get to the BJC. So there's a lot of people in the Lehigh Valley that I think will give us a great home court advantage." (Preachin' to the choir here, Pat).

Chambers went on to discuss his ties to the Lehigh Valley, having worked his first post-collegiate job there as a pharmaceutical salesman in the Allentown-Easton-Phillipsburg area. He also mentioned his strong relationship with Lafayette head coach Fran O'Hanlon a number of times throughout today's press conference, so speculation that the Easton-based Leopards could be the opponent for the PPL Center game might not be too far off base.