GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team extended their winning streak to five after topping Pitt-Greensburg 68-57 in an Allegheny Mountain College Conference (AMCC) matchup Saturday afternoon.
The Lions' (18-3, 13-1 AMCC) number one ranked defense in the country held the Bobcats (6-14, 4-10 AMCC) offense to shoot 26.3 percent from three-point range, including 0-for-10 in the first half, to help propel them to their 12th double-figure win on the season.
Leading the way for Behrend was junior guard Malike Brinson (Erie, PA/Central Tech). He scored 16 points on 5-of-7 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three, and added five boards and four steals.
Derrick Clark (Erie, PA/Central Tech) and Mike Fischer (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) also had big games for the Lions. Clark dropped 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc while dishing out a career-high six assists. Fischer notched a career-best 11 dimes and nine points, just one point shy of recording his first career double-double.
Behrend has gotten themselves out to early leads in recent games that gives them cushion at the halftime break. Close battles, followed by a breakout run propelled them to that cushion. With a two-point advantage in the opening 3:14, the Lions went on a 20-6 run to take a sound 28-12 lead. They finished the half up 15.
The second half was evenly played. Behrend increased its lead to 20 with just over 11 left to play, but an 11-2 run by the Bobcats brought the lead back down to 11, where it would finish.
As a team, the Lions shot 40.0 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from three-point range.
Behrend is back at home this Wednesday to battle La Roche for the number one seed in the conference. This showdown will tip-off at 6 p.m.
