STEUBENVILLE, Oh. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team bounced back into the win column after defeating Franciscan 61-49 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action Saturday afternoon.
In a low scoring first half in this conference showdown, the Lions' (14-3, 9-1 AMCC) 45.5 percent second half shooting gave them the lift they needed to pick up a hard fought road win.
Derrick Clark (Erie, PA/Central Tech) led all scorers setting a new career-high 17 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three point range, beating his previous high of 14 points set this past Wednesday against La Roche. He also snagged a career-high four rebounds.
Junior forward Dan Wanker (Pittsburgh, PA/South Park) notched his 13th double-figure scoring performance of the season, recording 14 points while adding six boards and two assists.
Two other players scored in double figures to mark the fifth time this season four different players scored 10 plus points. Malike Brinson (Erie, PA/Central Tech) tallied 11 points, including 3-of-5 from the floor. He also pulled down six rebounds and dished out two assists. Justin Gorny (South Park, PA/South Park) put up 10 points shooting 57.1 percent from the field.
The Barons (3-14, 2-8 AMCC) would make Behrend's day difficult to take, starting the game on a 10-4 run.
The Lions slowly clawed their way back late, earning a 20-19 lead with 5:04 left coming from a Kenny Fukon (Cranberry Twp., PA/Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic) tip-in.
Both teams put together buckets in the closing minutes of the half, but as time was winding down, Clark hit one of Behrend's two first half three-pointers to give the Lions a 26-25 advantage at the break.
The Lions shot 37 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from behind the arc, tying a season low.
In the opening moments of the second half, the Barons converted on a three to give them a two point lead, which would be their last lead of the game.
A Gorny jump shot, followed by an and-one shot from Brinson gave the Lions a three point edge that they maintained for the remainder of the contest.
The Lions continued to add upon their lead, topping out at a 13 point advantage with only 7:19 remaining in the game.
After a slow starting and shooting first half, the Lions buried 11 second-half three pointers to help secure a 12 point win over the Barons.
Behrend travels to D'Youville on Wednesday in its third and final road game stretch. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
