Top Seeded La Roche Gets Past Behrend in AMCC Finals, 80-69

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team was unable to overcome a 16-point first half deficit, falling to No. 1 LaRoche, 80-69, in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship Game Saturday afternoon.

Score: La Roche 80, Penn State Behrend 69
Records: La Roche (17-10), Penn State Behrend (20-7)

Key Moments:

* The Redhawks got off to a fast start, taking a 17-6 lead in the first seven minutes of the game to force Behrend to call a timeout
* La Roche extended its advantage to 16 points (36-20) headed into the locker room at halftime
* The Redhawks continued to extend their lead in the second half, grabbing their largest lead of the game of 22 (54-32) with 12:45 remaining
* However, Behrend was able to chip away at the Redhawks lead, cutting their deficit to seven with a minute left in the contest, but time would run out on the Lions comeback attempt
* In a game where the hosts never trailed, La Roche was able to secure its second straight conference title
* For the second straight game, Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) recorded a double-double which is his sixth of the season, finishing with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds
* Matt Niland (Erie, PA/Fairview) added 13 points for the Lions, while Mason Blankenberg (Ontario, NY/Wayne) tallied 15 points and six rebounds off the bench
* Senior RJ Marsh (State College, PA/Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy) chipped in nine rebounds and five assists to go along with eight points
* Isaiah Thomas delivered a double-double for La Roche, notching 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Michael Brooks, Bryce Epps, and Dawson Summers each finished with 15 points
* Blankenberg and DiRienzo were named to the AMCC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team