WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team defeated Alma 72-49 in the consolation game of the Smokey Ballenger Classic held by Otterbein on Friday afternoon.
Score: Penn State Behrend 72, Alma 49
Records: Penn State Behrend (5-6), Alma (3-8)
Key Moments:
* The Lions relied on outside shooting in the first half with seven three points for a 15-point lead at the break
* RJ Marsh (State College, PA/Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy) tallied 10 points and Matt Niland (Erie, PA/Fairview) added nine in the opening 20 minutes
* Behrend added three more triples to start the second half to push the lead to 52-27 with 12:22 left to play
* A Seth Myers (Erie, PA/General McLane) three pointer made it a 30-point game at the 9:46 mark
* Behrend never relinquished the lead for its fifth win of the season
* Marsh, Myers and Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) led with 14 points apiece
* Marsh also grabbed nine rebounds while getting two steals and two blocks
* Niland finished with four three pointers and had a team-best four assists for 12 points
* It marks the second time this season the Lions held an opponent below 50 points
Noteworthy:
* Marsh was named to the All-Tournament Team for averaging 13 points and 10.5 rebounds over two games
Up Next:
* The Lions return to action on Wednesday, January 4 against Mt. Aloysius. Game time is 2 p.m.