ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State men's basketball program shot 52.4 percent from behind-the-arc netting a season-high 11 triples defeat conference foe Penn State Altoona 75-44 at the Junker Center on Saturday.
Russ Conley, Nick Thorsen and Pat St. Andrews led the way for the Behrend Lions (6-0, 2-0 AMCC) chipping in 15 points apiece. Conley also pulled down five rebounds and recorded two blocks while Thorsen and St. Andrews combined to shoot 10-of-12 from long-range.
The Altoona Lions (1-6, 1-1 AMCC) were paced by Kyle Banfield with 10 points and six rebounds.
Two of Lorenzo Carter's eight points came off a dunk that gave Altoona an 8-7 lead, its first of the game with 13:10 left in the first half. Behrend would scrap its way back after two-minutes of scoreless defense that resulted in a 9-0 Behrend Lion run and gave them a 16-10 edge.
With 3:45 left before half, Altoona's Bobby Nester hit a triple to put his team up, 21-20. Chris Saltzman owned the last three minutes and thirty seconds posting six of his 12 points and four of his seven boards, to send Behrend into the locker room ahead, 30-22.
The Behrend Lions went on a 24-to-7 run to start the second half and busted the game wide open. Over the 10 minute stretch the men combined to drain four triples while Justin Kovac dished out four of his six assist. The Lions never looked back thanks to a 7-for-8 showing from three in the final 20 minutes.
Behrend is off to their best start since the 2003-04 season. The Lions had four players score double-digits and was able to empty the bench in the win.
Behrend returns to action Wednesday night at Hilbert. Game time is 8 p.m.