Lions Roll Into Semifinals

ERIE, Pa. – Sophomore guard Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley) scored a game-high 18 points to help the Penn State Behrend men's basketball team knock off Pitt-Bradford in the first round of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Tournament.

The Lions (18-8) forced 21 turnovers and held the Panthers to just 35.7 shooting.

Behrend opened the game on a 14-2 run through the first five minutes.  With the offense rolling, the Lions' defense was stifling the Pitt-Bradford attack.  Behrend forced 12 first-half turnovers while only committing two.  At the break, the Lions held a 32-18 advantage.

With the second half underway, the Panthers started to chip away at the lead.  By the 8:07 mark, Pitt-Bradford had the deficit down to single digits, but two free throws and a Pat St. Andrews (State College, PA/State College) three had Behrend out in front by 14.

The Panthers made one last effort to catch the Lions, but a 9-0 run capped by a three from Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) sealed the victory for Behrend.

DeLisio tied a career-high with six rebounds to go with five assists.  Conley finished the game with 14 points.  St. Andrews finished with nine points, tying a season-high with three triples.

With the win, the Lions advanced to the AMCC Tournament semifinals and will face No. 2 seed La Roche on Friday at 8 p.m. at Hilbert.