ERIE, Pa. – Tipping off a new season is always exciting and for the Penn State Behrend men's basketball team it is no different. The Lions will start their season with an exhibition game against Division I foe Army.
Behrend has won back-to-back Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships, and advanced to the NCAA tournament two years in a row. Last season, the Lions won the conference regular-season crown as well as the AMCC Tournament and they advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament after a thrilling 70-66 overtime victory over Hope College.
Behrend is led by returning starters Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley), Keith Wallace (Erie, PA/Central Tech) and Mike Knoll (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep). DeLisio and Wallace were both named AMCC All-Conference first teamers while Wallace also garnered Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Army is coming off a fifth place regular-season finish in the Division I Patriot League. Assistant Coach Justin Jennings is a former Behrend Lion standout and assistant coach. Jennings was a four-year starter at point guard from 2002-2006 and sits at fourth all-time in career assists with 322.
Jennings took over the helm of the United States Military Academy Prep School in April of 2011. Since then, he has guided the squad to a 77-18 overall record and set the school record for wins last season with 27. Jennings joined Army's coaching staff in September and will serve as an assistant under head coach Zach Spiker.
The Lions will travel to Army November 7th for the exhibition game slated to start at 7 p.m.
