Free Throws Help Lions Defeat D’Youville

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team shot 91.2 percent from the free throw line en route to defeating D'Youville 86-52 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Monday evening.

The Lions (16-6, 12-3 AMCC) shot a season-best 31-of-34 from the charity stripe and held the Spartans to just 33.3 percent shooting to earn their third straight victory.

Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) led the way for Behrend, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field while connecting on 10-of-11 free throws for 20 points.

By the 12:44 mark of the opening stanza, the Lions had opened up a 20-0 lead.  The early run was capped off by three straight threes from Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley).  Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley) and DeLisio hit back-to-back layups to finish the first half, putting Behrend up by 23 at the break.

In the second half, the Lions nearly match D'Youville from the free throw line alone.  Behrend made 22 free throws in the second twenty and only allowed 29 second-half points.  Much like the 20-0 run in the first half, the Lions went on another huge run midway through the second.  In a five-minute span, Behrend scored 17 unanswered to seal the victory and set up a first-place showdown this weekend.

DeLisio and Shane Skelly (Westlake, PA/Westlake) each scored in double figures for the Lions.  DeLisio contributed 15 points to go with five assists and five steals.  Skelly registered 14 points, scoring in double figures for the fifth time in Behrend's last six contests.

The Lions will travel to La Roche on Saturday at 4 p.m. to battle the Redhawks who are currently in first place in the AMCC with an 11-3 record.