Lions Down Franciscan in AMCC Action

Lions Down Franciscan in AMCC Action

STEUBENVILLE, Oh - The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team rumbled past Franciscan Saturday afteroon by a score of 81-43 to pick up their second Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) win of the season.

The Lions (4-2, 2-0 AMCC) had four players score in double-digits and shot 56.9 percent from the field including an impressive 75 percent from beyond the arc, going 15-20.

Andy Niland (Fairview, PA/Fairview) led all scorers with 20 points in the game. The sophomore guard picked up his second 20-plus point game of the year after shooting 70 percent from the floor which included a 5-for-6 performance from three-point range.

Malquan Pullium(Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) and Dan Wanker (Pittsburgh, PA/South Park) each dropped 12 points for Behrend while Mike Fischer (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) was perfect from the floor (5-for-5) including three from beyond the arc to contribute 13 points off the bench.

The Barons (0-7, 0-2 AMCC) scored the first two baskets of the game, but that was the only lead they could generate. The Lions jumped to an early 16-6 lead at the 13:53 mark after going on an 8-0 run and never looked back. Niland shot a perfect 4-for-4 from three point range and scored 14 points to help his team build a strong first-half lead that was too large to overcome.

Fischer added the majority of his points during the first 20 minutes as well by adding 11. The Lions went into halftime with a 44-19 after shooting 60 percent from the field and adding 10 three pointers.

The second half proved to be much of the same story. Matt Colpoys (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) led the way for Behrend, scoring seven points while playing 13 minutes in the second half.

Tyler Gates (Titusville, PA/Titusville) Derrick Clark (Erie, PA/Central Tech) and Brandon Thorsen (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) each picked up their first career points in the win.

The Lions will be back in action when they take on non-conference opponent Carnegie Mellon at home this Wednesday. Game time in set for 7 p.m.