Thiel Nips Lions In Overtime

ERIE, Pa. – The Thiel men's basketball team shot 56 percent from the floor, including 70 percent in the second half for a 72-70 overtime victory over Penn State Behrend in non-conference action on Tuesday night.  

The win marks the third straight for the Tomcats (3-0) this season and third consecutive over the Lions (2-1). Thiel had five players in double figures led by Chace McKinney with 17 on 8-for-10 shooting. AJ Forbes and Ladell Trotty, who finished with 14 and 11 points respectively, each tallied four points in the overtime to help Thiel remain undefeated.

Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) led all scorers with 23 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double this season. The senior forward also went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley) came off the bench to add 13.

Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley), the current AMCC Player of the Week, was held scoreless until the last 13 seconds of the game but he made it count when Behrend needed it most. Down 62-58 with 35 seconds to play, DeLisio hit the front end of two free throws on back-to-back trips to the line, before driving and making the layup to tie the game with time expired to force overtime.

The Lions grabbed a two-point lead in overtime on three occasions. Two straight baskets, including one off a turnover put the Tomcats ahead, 68-66. Conley finished his perfect streak from the line with a pair of free throws to even the score.

Thiel scored its final four points from the charity stripe. Forbes made two and Anthony Harvey tallied one for a 71-68 lead. Conley worked the middle to get two points and trim the lead to one with 24 seconds on the clock.

Behrend fouled to get the ball back, however R.J. Brownlee made it a two-point game and the Lions had 15 seconds to work with for a last shot. Behrend went for the win and kicked the ball out to the corner for a wide-open Adam Palcic (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic), who could not get his shot to drop for the Lions first loss of the season.

Behrend held a 32-28 lead at halftime after shooting 52 percent from the field. The Tomcats clamped down on defense and held the Lions to eight field goals in the second half, making them rely on free-throw shooting (12-for-15). As a team, Behrend went 6-for-22 from behind the arc.

The Lions return to action next Wednesday against Pitt-Bradford at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on the Image Sports Network.