Hot Shooting Gives Lions Victory
The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team defeated Pitt-Bradford 68-51 on Wednesday evening in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action.
BRADFORD, Pa. - The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team defeated Pitt-Bradford 68-51 on Wednesday evening in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action.
The Lions (12-10, 11-5 AMCC) shot 55.3 percent from the floor and connected on five threes en route to earning the season sweep of the Panthers.
Throughout most of the first half, Behrend and Pitt-Bradford traded baskets. By the halfway mark, neither team was able to gain much of an advantage. Leading by one with 6:30 to play, the Lions finally gained control. Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) hit two layups with Evan Eaton (Mt. Lebanon, PA/Mt. Lebanon) cashing in two from the free throw line to push the lead to seven.
After Thomas Dekmar made a layup of his own, Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley) nailed a three. Adam Palic (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic) made five straight points with Chirs Rader (Wexford, PA/Pine-Richland) hitting a three and suddenly Behrend had a 38-24 halftime lead. The Lions ended the half on a 17-4 run.
With the second half underway, the two teams once again went back and forth. Behrend was able to rely on a strong defensive effort to keep the lead at double digits. At the 7:36 mark, Conley netted five consecutive points followed by another DeLisio three to extend the lead and secure their third straight win.
Conley tied a season-high with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Keith Wallace (Washington, DC/Central Tech - Erie) contributed 11. Nick Thorsen (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) matched a career-high with six assists.
The Lions will be back on the hardwood on Saturday at Franciscan. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.