BUFFALO, N.Y. – The No. 21 Penn State Behrend men's basketball team had their 15-game winning streak snapped after falling 71-52 to Medaille in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action Wednesday night.
The Lions (19-2, 13-2 AMCC) could not seem to get anything to drop during their trip to Buffalo. Behrend shot 35.1 percent from the floor (20-57), their lowest mark this season, which turned into their lowest point production of the season.
With the Mavericks (10-12, 8-7 AMCC) shooting at a 47.4 percent (27-57) clip, this marks only the second time this season the Lions have been beaten in the shooting percentage category; the other game was their home loss to La Roche.
Both of Behrend's losses have come at the hands of being out-shot by their opponents and scoring fewer than 60 points. Even as great of a three-point shooting team the Lions are, having three players hold the top three spots in the AMCC in three-point percentage, they were only 7-of-27 from beyond the arc.
Despite the shooting slump on the night, junior guard Malquan Pullium (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) tried to take the game into his own hands and spark any sort of big run from Behrend. He went 7-for-14 from the floor, including draining three triples for 17 points, a game-high.
Other than Pullium cracking into double figures, no other Lion could do the same. Zane Hackett (Brookville, PA/Brookville) scored eight, Matt Colpoys (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) and Andy Niland (Fairview, PA/ Fairview) each had seven and Justin Gorny (South Park, PA/South Park) added six.
Niland dished five assists and three steals, Colpoys brought down as many rebounds as he did points (7), and Hackett grabbed six boards. Off the bench, Behrend shot only 2-of-16 for seven points. Jarrett Pound (Wattsburg, PA/Seneca) sank his second three in a Lion uniform for three points and Noah Kunst (Kittanning, PA/Kittaning) collected his first collegiate points, making a bucket and two free throws.
A three by Gorny on the Lions' second possession gave them a 3-0 and started a back and forth battle throughout the first half. Two ties and nine lead changes set up for a dramatic game a basketball.
After the eighth lead change of the first half, Behrend took a one point advantage with 6:55 left. A ninth lead change quickly ensued after Mike Hollenbeck of Medaille made a layup and started a 10-0 Maverick run that would end up being the final lead change of the game.
A short 6-2 run by the Lions to close out the final two minutes of the half kept the Lions' halftime deficit manageable.
Medaille was able to push their lead to 10 just under three minutes into the second frame, but Behrend showed some fight and clawed their way to within one. After a 40-30 Maverick advantage, four points from Colpoys, two from Hackett and a triple each from Gorny and Pullium amounted to a 12-3 run to force a 43-42 game.
But despite Behrend's best efforts at a complete comeback, Medaille once again pulled away and cruised to the final buzzer. A 10-0 run gave them an 11-point cushion which they followed with another 10-0 run that started four minutes later.
One last bucket from each team sealed the game and handed the Lions their worst loss since a 28-point defeat to end their season against Wheaton in their 2013-14 NCAA second round matchup.
Behrend looks to get back on track on Senior Day at home Saturday against Mount Aloysius with a 2 p.m. tip.
