ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team was selected to finish third in the 2023-24 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll under longtime head coach Dave Niland, who enters his 29th season at the helm.
Last season, the Lions finished with an overall record of 11-16 and 5-9 in conference play. Behrend defeated Pitt-Greensburg in the first round of the AMCC Tournament, before falling to the eventual AMCC Champion La Roche in the semifinals.
Senior guard Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) was named All-AMCC Second Team a season ago after leading the team with 16.7 points per game and was second in rebounds per game (7.4). Matthew McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) earned Co-Newcomer of the Year honors, averaging 9.8 points per game and setting a new school record with 10 made three pointers in a single game during his first collegiate season.
Penn State Altoona and defending champion La Roche were picked to finish in front of Behrend in the preseason rankings.
AMCC Men's Basketball Preseason Rankings:
1. Penn State Altoona (2)
2. La Roche (1)
3. Penn State Behrend (T5)
4. Hilbert (3)
5. Pitt-Bradford (T5)
6. Wells (N/A)
7. Pitt-Greensburg (4)
8. Alfred State (7)
9. Mount Aloysius (8)
10. Carlow (N/A)
*Number in parenthesis is order of regular-season finish in 2022-23
