PITTSBURGH, Pa. –Down two points with one tick left on the clock, Laron Mann blocked a Behrend shot that represented the game-winning bucket. La Roche went on to win the 2010-11 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship game, 55-53, Saturday at a packed Coach Scott Lang Court.
The Redhawks (24-2) were led by Mann's 15 points and three steals. Helping out off the bench, David Jackson put up a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down a game-high 14 boards in the NCAA tournament qualifying win.
The Lions (23-4) were led by Chris Saltzman. The senior forward had a monster 26-point game in his last AMCC matchup while Russ Conley chipped in with 13 and eight rebounds.
Despite Saltzman's 14 first-half buckets, Behrend came out of halftime with a three point deficit (30-27). Desperately needing to score the Lions turned to their post players. A Conley triple opened up the lane for Saltzman who followed with eight straight scores to give Behrend its first lead of the half (42-38) with 12:11 remaining.
Over the next few minutes La Roche responded netting a couple baskets of their own putting the Redhawks back up, 50-49 (2:40). Two made free throws by each Jackson and Mann put the Lions down, 51-54 (1:58). Desperately needing a basket, Conley stepped up draining the easy deuce with a minute left to play (53-54). After another made attempt from the charity stripe by Jackson, the Lions marched down the court to set up a last second out-of-bounds play. Nick Dvorsky's three-point attempt was deflected by Laron Mann and the Redhawks held on to a 55-53 victory.
The Lions will continue post-season play which will be announced Monday.