CLEVELAND, Oh. – The holidays have been kind to the Penn State Behrend men's basketball team. Nick Delisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley) scored 18 points and Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley) added 17 with eight assists to push the Lions past Bethany 77-66 in the Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament at Horsburgh Gymnasium on Sunday evening.
The contest was a tight affair through the first ten minutes with Behrend leading by just three midway through the first half. But the Lions (6-2, 2-1 AMCC) would then put the pedal to the floor, going on a 10-0 run capped off by a Zane Hackett (Brookville, PA/Brookville) layup to make the score 30-17.
Hackett finished with ten points for Behrend, continuing his magnificent start to the 2013-14 campaign. The sophomore, who leads the team in points per game (13.8) and rebounds per game (7.5), has now scored in double figures in every contest thus far this season.
The Lions, in particular big man Shane Skelly (Westlake, OH/Westlake), came out of the locker room on a blistering place to start the second half. The senior netted the first three buckets of the session for Behrend. Skelly finished with ten points to go along with six boards.
Although the previously unbeaten Bison (9-1) twice cut the Lions lead to two, Behrend refused to allow Bethany to tie or take the lead. When Lawrence Weldon made a layup to make the score 53-51 with 8:51 remaining, it seemed as if the Bison had stolen the momentum. But the Lions quickly responded, going on a 14-3 run to take command.
Keith Wallace (Erie, PA/Central Tech) finished with seven points, seven boards, and five assists for Behrend, who out rebounded yet another opponent by a substantial margin (38-28).
Playing in their first game since December 14, the Lions showed no signs of rust. Behrend was stellar at the foul line, going 20-of-23 with Delisio a perfect 8-for-8.
The Lions were also able to get to the charity stripe with frequency, attempting 23 free throws to just seven for Bethany.
With the win, Behrend advances to the championship game of the Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament. The Lions will take on the winner of Case Western Reserve and Heidelberg on Monday, December 30 at 4 p.m.
