ERIE, Pa - Connor McLaughlin (Ashtabula, OH/Edgewood) scored a career-high 24 points, including 13 in the second half to lift the Penn State Behrend men's basketball team over Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) opponent Hilbert Wednesday night, 69-68.
McLaughlin, a junior guard, went 5-for-6 from three-point range and shot 66.7 percent in the second half to help the Lions (10-4, 5-2 AMCC) hold off the Hawks (7-7, 4-4 AMCC).
Malquan Pullium (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) also put together a strong second half, recording eight points and six rebounds. He finished the night with 17 points and 11 rebounds, tallying his first double-double of the season.
Behrend enter halftime facing a two-point deficit, 33-31, after Hilbert mounted a late 16-6 run to end the first 20 minutes of action. The Lions, however, jumped right back in front just eight seconds into the second half with a McLaughlin three.
For the majority of the half, Behrend maintained a 4-to-6 point lead until the 5:14 mark when Mike Fischer's (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) layup put his team up 61-54, their largest lead of the half.
The Hawks clawed back over the next few minutes eventually tying the game three seperate times before taking their first second-half lead, 68-67, with just 46 seconds remaining.
With 27 seconds left in the game, Matt Colpoys (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) found Dan Wanker (Pittsburgh, PA/South Park) posted up in the paint where he made a left-handed layup and put the Lions up by one, 69-68.
With the shot clock off, Hilbert headed down the floor to hold for the last shot. Behrend's defense, however, had different plans. Pullium forced a Jalen Smith turnover with just seconds to play, giving the Lions the win.
Together, McLaughlin and Pullium shot 59.3 percent from the field, combining for 41 points. Colpoys finished the game with six points and four assists while Wanker finished with an even six points and six rebounds.
Behrend outshot the Hawks in both halves, including 51.7 percent shooting in the second half to overcome Hilbert's halftime lead.
The Lions will be back in action this Saturday as they travel to Penn State Altoona for a 3 p.m. game.
