ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team begins Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) play against Carlow in the Junker Center on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Tip off is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Coverage:
Video | Live Stats | Game Notes
Behrend News & Notes:
* The Lions went 1-1 last week with an 80-69 victory over Baldwin Wallace and then falling for the first time this season at Allegheny on Saturday (73-67)
* Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) averaged 22.0 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game in Behrend's two games this past week
* On Tuesday, he led all scorers with a season-high 32 points to go along with 11 rebounds against the Yellow Jackets
* DiRienzo scored 17 of his 32 points in the second half, while Matthew McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) delivered 14 of his 18 points in the second period to help the Lions force the extra period. McDonough added a team-high three steals in Tuesday's contest
* This marked the fourth 30-point game for DiRienzo in his career as he tallied three 30-point games last season. He scored a career-high 35 points against Pitt-Greensburg last season, which was the last time he notched 30 or more points
* On the glass, RJ Marsh (State College, PA/Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy) tallied double-digit rebounds, pulling down 10 boards. He has collected 10 or more rebounds in all four of five games to start the season
* DiRienzo recorded a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Gators on Saturday
* His efforts earned him AMCC Athlete of the Week honors
* Michael Sopko (New Castle, PA/Neshannock) finished with a career-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds against Allegheny. He previously set his career-high with 12 points in Behrend's season-opener vs. Thiel
Meet the Opposition:
* Carlow has begun the season with a 2-4 overall record, dropping its last game at the Apprentice School (92-62) on Sunday, Nov. 19
* Sophomore guard Byron Gaskins leads the team in points per game (20.8) and rebounds per game (6.3)
* Fellow second-year players Galen Waters and Oscar Contreras average 13.0 and 12.5 points per game, respectively
* The Celtics are in their first season as a member of the AMCC and were selected to finish 10th in the 2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll
* Gaskins and junior guard Riley Comforti were named as AMCC Preseason Players To Watch
* Head coach Tim Keefer is in his 10th season at the helm of the men's basketball program
Series History:
* This is the first matchup in program history between the Celtics and Lions
February 28, 2024
Behrend Heads To Juniata To Face Saint Vincent in ECAC Quarterfinals
February 24, 2024
Top Seeded La Roche Gets Past Behrend in AMCC Finals, 80-69
February 14, 2024
Lions Outlast Alfred State in AMCC Game of the Week
February 10, 2024
Behrend Pulls Off Overtime Win at Altoona
February 7, 2024
Lions Take Regular Season Series from Hawks
February 6, 2024
Men’s Basketball Hosts Hilbert in Final Regular-Season Home Contest
February 5, 2024
Balanced Scoring Leads Behrend Past Wells
February 4, 2024
Lions, Express Meet for Second Time In Program History
February 3, 2024
Lions Prove Too Much for Panthers Saturday
February 2, 2024
Men’s Basketball Set To Honor Seniors vs. Pitt-Bradford
January 31, 2024
Lions Drop Overtime Thriller To La Roche, 71-69
January 24, 2024
Men’s Basketball Claims Fifth Straight Win At Carlow, 84-49
January 22, 2024
Festa, DiRienzo Named AMCC Athletes of the Week
January 20, 2024
Hot Shooting First Half Propels Lions Past Bobcats
January 19, 2024
Men’s Basketball Squares Off With Pitt-Greensburg Saturday
January 17, 2024
Four Lions Score In Double-Figures To Lead Behrend Past Pioneers
January 16, 2024
Lions Take on Alfred State In Midweek Matchup
January 12, 2024
Basketball Doubleheader vs. Wells Postponed
January 10, 2024
Strong Start Fuels Behrend Past Hilbert
January 5, 2024
Behrend Men’s Basketball Hosts Altoona Saturday
January 3, 2024
Panthers Pull Away From Lions In Second Half
December 8, 2023
Lions Set for Matchup With Mounties
December 6, 2023
La Roche Gets Past Behrend Men’s Basketball
December 2, 2023
Late Comeback Attempt Falls Short for Behrend At Pitt-Greensburg
November 29, 2023
Behrend Scores First Program Win Over Carlow Wednesday
November 28, 2023
Men’s Basketball Hosts Carlow for First Matchup in Program History
November 27, 2023
Behrend Basketball Takes AMCC Weekly Awards
November 25, 2023
Lions Fall for First Time This Season At Allegheny, 73-67
November 21, 2023
DiRienzo’s 32 Points Propels Behrend Past Baldwin Wallace In Overtime
November 18, 2023
Men’s Basketball Handles Carnegie Mellon, 87-77
November 17, 2023
Behrend Completes Three-Game Homestand vs. Carnegie Mellon
November 14, 2023
Behrend Sneaks By Blue Devils, 66-62
November 13, 2023
Men’s Basketball Welcomes Fredonia To The Junker Center
November 8, 2023
Lions Secure Opening Night Win Over Tomcats
November 7, 2023
Behrend Men’s Basketball Opens Season At Home vs. Thiel
November 2, 2023
Men’s Basketball Picked Third In AMCC Preseason Poll