Big First Half Powers Lions to Victory

STUBENVILLE, Ohio - The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team defeated Franciscan 55-35 on Saturday afternoon in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action.

The Lions (13-10, 12-5 AMCC) outscored the Barons by 23 points in the first half.

Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) got out to a fast start for Behrend.  The junior center scored eight of the Lions' first nine points.  By the midway point, the Lions had doubled up Franciscan, 18-9.  

After Nick Thorsen (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) connected on a three, Shane Skelly (Westlake, OH/Westlake) netted two from the charity stripe.  Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley) hit a three of his own, and suddenly Behrend had built a 17 point lead. Keith Wallace (Washington, DC/Central Tech - Erie) ended the first half with three consecutive layups to give the Lions a 37-14 lead at the break.  Behrend ended the opening stanza on a 19-5 run.

With the second half underway, the two teams traded buckets for most of the second 20 minutes.  Neither team was able to score much with Behrend holding at least an 18 point advantage for the entire half.  

Over the final eight minutes, Wallace and Conley each hit two free throws with DeLisio hitting four for the only Lions' points to end the game and earn the 20-point victory.

Despite only hitting three triples, Behrend won the battle of the boards 28-19 and had a season-low six turnovers.  The Lions held Franciscan to just 13 field goals.

Conley led three Behrend players in double figures with 13 points.  Skelly recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Wallace contributed 10 points.

The Lions will wrap up the regular season at home on Saturday.  Behrend will play Mt. Aloysius at 2 p.m.