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13 Michael Sopko
Michael Sopko
  • Height:
    6-4
  • Year:
    Jr.
  • Hometown:
    New Castle, PA
  • High School:
    Neshannock
  • Position:
    G/F
  • gp
    20
  • pts/g
    5.0
  • fg %
    48.1
  • 3pt %
    33.3
  • ft %
    52.9
  • reb/g
    4.8
  • a/g
    1.1
Bio

Career Highlights

2023-24

* Academic All-AMCC
* Started 28 of 29 games
* Led the team in blocks per game (1.0)
* Third on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game
* Scored a career-high 16 points in two contests
* Pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds vs. Pitt-Bradford
* Recorded five blocks at Carlow
* Tallied double-figures in 10 games

2022-23

* Academic All-AMCC
* Played in 21 games
* Notched first collegiate basket at Thiel
* Scored a season-high eight points against Pitt-Bradford

At Penn State Behrend

* Majoring in psychology in the workplace
* Minoring in sports administration

Personal

* Son of Kelly and Michael Sopko
* Letterwinner in basketball at Neshannock High School
* WPIAL All-Section Team 
* Neshannock Section Champion 
* Holiday Tournament MVP  
* Athlete of the Week
* Men's Player of the Year Finalist
* National Honors Society
* Layups for Lucy Committe 

Recent games
Date Opponent Result
Jan 20 Carlow W, 92-76
Jan 22 at Alfred St. L, 52-49
Jan 25 at Pitt-Greensburg L, 77-73
Jan 28 at Carlow W, 75-50
Feb 1 Mt. Aloysius W, 86-57
Feb 5 at La Roche L, 77-72
Season Statistics
  Overall Conference
Games 20 12
Games started 4 2
Minutes 413 274
Minutes per game 20.6 22.8
FG 39-81 30-55
FG Pct 48.1 54.5
3PT 12-36 8-22
3PT Pct 33.3 36.4
FT 9-17 7-13
FT Pct 52.9 53.8
Off rebounds 27 16
Def rebounds 70 51
Total rebounds 97 67
Rebounds per game 4.8 5.6
Personal fouls 60 35
Disqualifications 1 1
Assists 21 12
Turnovers 15 12
Assist to turnover ratio 1.4 1.0
Steals 12 4
Blocks 20 16
Points 99 75
Points per game 5.0 6.3
Points per 40 min 9.6 10.9
Game Log - Shooting
Date Opponent Score gs min fg pct 3pt pct ft pct pts
Nov 8 Allegheny W, 86-68 0 24 1-1 100.0 0-0 - 2-4 50.0 4
Nov 13 at Thiel W, 94-76 - 19 1-3 33.3 1-3 33.3 0-0 - 3
Nov 18 at Carnegie Mellon L, 84-62 - 17 0-6 0.0 0-2 0.0 0-0 - 0
Nov 22 vs. Buffalo State W, 64-57 1 20 0-1 0.0 0-0 - 0-0 - 0
Nov 23 at Hobart L, 60-53 1 18 0-1 0.0 0-1 0.0 0-0 - 0
Nov 26 Baldwin Wallace L, 88-75 - - - - - - - - -
Dec 7 Pitt-Greensburg W, 79-72 1 29 3-3 100.0 0-0 - 0-0 - 6
Dec 11 La Roche L, 75-59 1 27 3-7 42.9 2-4 50.0 0-0 - 8
Dec 14 at Fredonia W, 79-51 - 14 2-6 33.3 1-3 33.3 0-0 - 5
Dec 29 at St. John Fisher L, 58-56 - 13 2-4 50.0 1-3 33.3 0-0 - 5
Dec 30 vs. Canton W, 74-63 - 14 3-4 75.0 1-2 50.0 0-0 - 7
Jan 4 at Mt. Aloysius W, 72-65 - 24 4-8 50.0 1-3 33.3 1-3 33.3 10
Jan 8 at Penn State Altoona L, 78-76 - 29 2-4 50.0 1-3 33.3 1-2 50.0 6
Jan 11 Pitt-Bradford L, 85-81 - 22 4-5 80.0 1-1 100.0 0-0 - 9
Jan 15 Hilbert W, 74-68 - 23 3-7 42.9 0-3 0.0 1-4 25.0 7
Jan 20 Carlow W, 92-76 - 28 4-4 100.0 1-1 100.0 0-0 - 9
Jan 22 at Alfred St. L, 52-49 - 23 1-2 50.0 0-0 - 0-0 - 2
Jan 25 at Pitt-Greensburg L, 77-73 - 25 2-5 40.0 1-4 25.0 2-2 100.0 7
Jan 28 at Carlow W, 75-50 - 16 3-4 75.0 1-1 100.0 0-0 - 7
Feb 1 Mt. Aloysius W, 86-57 0 13 1-4 25.0 0-1 0.0 2-2 100.0 4
Feb 5 at La Roche L, 77-72 - 15 0-2 0.0 0-1 0.0 0-0 - 0
Feb 8 Penn State Altoona   - - - - - - - - -
Feb 12 at Hilbert   - - - - - - - - -
Feb 15 at Pitt-Bradford   - - - - - - - - -
Feb 19 Alfred St.   - - - - - - - - -
Game Log - Ball control
Date Opponent Score gs min off def reb ast to stl blk
Nov 8 Allegheny W, 86-68 0 24 3 5 8 1 0 2 1
Nov 13 at Thiel W, 94-76 - 19 0 3 3 1 0 1 2
Nov 18 at Carnegie Mellon L, 84-62 - 17 3 3 6 2 1 1 0
Nov 22 vs. Buffalo State W, 64-57 1 20 0 3 3 0 2 1 0
Nov 23 at Hobart L, 60-53 1 18 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
Nov 26 Baldwin Wallace L, 88-75 - - - - - - - - -
Dec 7 Pitt-Greensburg W, 79-72 1 29 1 3 4 1 3 0 0
Dec 11 La Roche L, 75-59 1 27 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
Dec 14 at Fredonia W, 79-51 - 14 3 2 5 0 0 1 0
Dec 29 at St. John Fisher L, 58-56 - 13 1 1 2 2 0 1 0
Dec 30 vs. Canton W, 74-63 - 14 1 1 2 2 0 1 1
Jan 4 at Mt. Aloysius W, 72-65 - 24 3 8 11 1 1 0 1
Jan 8 at Penn State Altoona L, 78-76 - 29 2 6 8 2 1 1 2
Jan 11 Pitt-Bradford L, 85-81 - 22 2 2 4 0 1 0 4
Jan 15 Hilbert W, 74-68 - 23 1 5 6 1 0 0 2
Jan 20 Carlow W, 92-76 - 28 0 6 6 0 0 1 1
Jan 22 at Alfred St. L, 52-49 - 23 1 6 7 2 0 1 1
Jan 25 at Pitt-Greensburg L, 77-73 - 25 1 2 3 2 2 0 2
Jan 28 at Carlow W, 75-50 - 16 2 2 4 1 3 0 2
Feb 1 Mt. Aloysius W, 86-57 0 13 2 4 6 0 0 0 1
Feb 5 at La Roche L, 77-72 - 15 1 6 7 2 1 0 0
Feb 8 Penn State Altoona   - - - - - - - - -
Feb 12 at Hilbert   - - - - - - - - -
Feb 15 at Pitt-Bradford   - - - - - - - - -
Feb 19 Alfred St.   - - - - - - - - -
Game Log - Ball control extended
Date Opponent Score gs pf dq a/to
Nov 8 Allegheny W, 86-68 0 3 0 -
Nov 13 at Thiel W, 94-76 - 3 0 -
Nov 18 at Carnegie Mellon L, 84-62 - 4 0 2.0
Nov 22 vs. Buffalo State W, 64-57 1 4 0 0.0
Nov 23 at Hobart L, 60-53 1 4 0 -
Nov 26 Baldwin Wallace L, 88-75 - - - -
Dec 7 Pitt-Greensburg W, 79-72 1 4 0 0.3
Dec 11 La Roche L, 75-59 1 2 0 -
Dec 14 at Fredonia W, 79-51 - 1 0 -
Dec 29 at St. John Fisher L, 58-56 - 2 - -
Dec 30 vs. Canton W, 74-63 - 4 - -
Jan 4 at Mt. Aloysius W, 72-65 - 2 0 1.0
Jan 8 at Penn State Altoona L, 78-76 - 4 - 2.0
Jan 11 Pitt-Bradford L, 85-81 - 3 0 0.0
Jan 15 Hilbert W, 74-68 - 3 0 -
Jan 20 Carlow W, 92-76 - 3 0 -
Jan 22 at Alfred St. L, 52-49 - 3 0 -
Jan 25 at Pitt-Greensburg L, 77-73 - 3 0 1.0
Jan 28 at Carlow W, 75-50 - 1 - 0.3
Feb 1 Mt. Aloysius W, 86-57 0 2 0 -
Feb 5 at La Roche L, 77-72 - 5 1 2.0
Feb 8 Penn State Altoona   - - - -
Feb 12 at Hilbert   - - - -
Feb 15 at Pitt-Bradford   - - - -
Feb 19 Alfred St.   - - - -
  gp min/g fg/g 3pt/g ft/g ppg
2022-23 21 7.4 0.5-1.7 0.1-0.9 0.2-0.3 1.2
2023-24 29 18.6 2.7-5.2 0.6-1.7 1.1-1.5 7.0
2024-25 20 20.6 1.9-4.0 0.6-1.8 0.5-0.8 5.0
Total 70 15.8 1.8-3.8 0.4-1.5 0.6-1.0 4.7

Career Stats: Shooting per game

  gp gs min fg pct 3pt pct ft pct pts
2022-23 21 0 156 10-35 28.6 2-18 11.1 4-6 66.7 26
2023-24 29 28 540 78-152 51.3 16-50 32.0 31-44 70.5 203
2024-25 20 4 413 39-81 48.1 12-36 33.3 9-17 52.9 99
Total 70 32 1109 127-268 47.4 30-104 28.8 44-67 65.7 328

Career Stats: Shooting totals

  gp min min/g fg/40 3pt/40 pct ft/40 pts/40
2022-23 21 156 7.4 2.6-9.0 0.5-4.6 11.1 1.0-1.5 6.7
2023-24 29 540 18.6 5.8-11.3 1.2-3.7 32.0 2.3-3.3 15.0
2024-25 20 413 20.6 3.8-7.8 1.2-3.5 33.3 0.9-1.6 9.6
Total 70 1109 15.8 4.6-9.7 1.1-3.8 28.8 1.6-2.4 11.8

Career Stats: Shooting per 40 min

  gp off/g def/g reb/g ast/g to/g stl/g blk/g
2022-23 21 0.4 1.1 1.6 0.2 0.5 0.1 0.1
2023-24 29 1.4 3.3 4.7 0.7 0.9 0.6 1.0
2024-25 20 1.4 3.5 4.8 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.0
Total 70 1.1 2.7 3.8 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.7

Career Stats: Ball control per game

  gp gs off def reb ast to stl blk
2022-23 21 0 9 24 33 5 10 2 3
2023-24 29 28 40 97 137 19 27 16 28
2024-25 20 4 27 70 97 21 15 12 20
Total 70 32 76 191 267 45 52 30 51

Career Stats: Ball control totals

  gp off/40 def/40 reb/40 ast/40 to/40 stl/40 blk/40
2022-23 21 2.3 6.2 8.5 1.3 2.6 0.5 0.8
2023-24 29 3.0 7.2 10.1 1.4 2.0 1.2 2.1
2024-25 20 2.6 6.8 9.4 2.0 1.5 1.2 1.9
Total 70 2.7 6.9 9.6 1.6 1.9 1.1 1.8

Career Stats: Ball control per 40 min

  gp min/g fg/g 3pt/g ft/g ppg
Event            
Total 20 20.6 1.9-4.0 0.6-1.8 0.5-0.8 5.0
Conference 12 22.8 2.5-4.6 0.7-1.8 0.6-1.1 6.3
Exhibition - - 0.0-0.0 0.0-0.0 0.0-0.0 -
Location            
Home 7 23.7 2.7-4.4 0.6-1.4 0.7-1.4 6.7
Away 11 19.4 1.5-4.1 0.6-2.2 0.4-0.6 4.1
Neutral 2 17.0 1.5-2.5 0.5-1.0 0.0-0.0 3.5
Result            
Wins 11 20.4 2.3-4.1 0.5-1.5 0.5-1.2 5.6
Losses 9 21.0 1.6-4.0 0.7-2.1 0.3-0.4 4.1
Month            
November 5 19.6 0.4-2.4 0.2-1.2 0.4-0.8 1.4
December 5 19.4 2.6-4.8 1.0-2.4 0.0-0.0 6.2
January 8 23.8 2.9-4.9 0.8-2.0 0.6-1.4 7.1
February 2 14.0 0.5-3.0 0.0-1.0 1.0-1.0 2.0

Splits Stats: Shooting per game

  gp gs min fg pct 3pt pct ft pct pts
Event                    
Total 20 4 413 39-81 48.1 12-36 33.3 9-17 52.9 99
Conference 12 2 274 30-55 54.5 8-22 36.4 7-13 53.8 75
Exhibition - - - 0-0 - 0-0 - 0-0 - 0
Location                    
Home 7 2 166 19-31 61.3 4-10 40.0 5-10 50.0 47
Away 11 1 213 17-45 37.8 7-24 29.2 4-7 57.1 45
Neutral 2 1 34 3-5 60.0 1-2 50.0 0-0 - 7
Result                    
Wins 11 2 224 25-45 55.6 6-17 35.3 6-13 46.2 62
Losses 9 2 189 14-36 38.9 6-19 31.6 3-4 75.0 37
Month                    
November 5 2 98 2-12 16.7 1-6 16.7 2-4 50.0 7
December 5 2 97 13-24 54.2 5-12 41.7 0-0 - 31
January 8 - 190 23-39 59.0 6-16 37.5 5-11 45.5 57
February 2 0 28 1-6 16.7 0-2 0.0 2-2 100.0 4

Splits Stats: Shooting totals

  gp min min/g fg/40 3pt/40 pct ft/40 pts/40
Event                
Total 20 413 20.6 3.8-7.8 1.2-3.5 33.3 0.9-1.6 9.6
Conference 12 274 22.8 4.4-8.0 1.2-3.2 36.4 1.0-1.9 10.9
Exhibition - - - 0.0-0.0 0.0-0.0 - 0.0-0.0 -
Location                
Home 7 166 23.7 4.6-7.5 1.0-2.4 40.0 1.2-2.4 11.3
Away 11 213 19.4 3.2-8.5 1.3-4.5 29.2 0.8-1.3 8.5
Neutral 2 34 17.0 3.5-5.9 1.2-2.4 50.0 0.0-0.0 8.2
Result                
Wins 11 224 20.4 4.5-8.0 1.1-3.0 35.3 1.1-2.3 11.1
Losses 9 189 21.0 3.0-7.6 1.3-4.0 31.6 0.6-0.8 7.8
Month                
November 5 98 19.6 0.8-4.9 0.4-2.4 16.7 0.8-1.6 2.9
December 5 97 19.4 5.4-9.9 2.1-4.9 41.7 0.0-0.0 12.8
January 8 190 23.8 4.8-8.2 1.3-3.4 37.5 1.1-2.3 12.0
February 2 28 14.0 1.4-8.6 0.0-2.9 0.0 2.9-2.9 5.7

Splits Stats: Shooting per 40 min

  gp off/g def/g reb/g ast/g to/g stl/g blk/g
Event                
Total 20 1.4 3.5 4.8 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.0
Conference 12 1.3 4.3 5.6 1.0 1.0 0.3 1.3
Exhibition - - - - - - - -
Location                
Home 7 1.3 3.7 5.0 0.4 0.6 0.6 1.3
Away 11 1.5 3.6 5.2 1.5 0.8 0.5 0.9
Neutral 2 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5
Result                
Wins 11 1.5 3.8 5.3 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.0
Losses 9 1.2 3.1 4.3 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.0
Month                
November 5 1.2 3.0 4.2 1.0 0.6 1.0 0.6
December 5 1.2 1.6 2.8 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.2
January 8 1.5 4.6 6.1 1.1 1.0 0.4 1.9
February 2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5

Splits Stats: Ball control per game

  gp gs off def reb ast to stl blk
Event                  
Total 20 4 27 70 97 21 15 12 20
Conference 12 2 16 51 67 12 12 4 16
Exhibition - - - - - - - - -
Location                  
Home 7 2 9 26 35 3 4 4 9
Away 11 1 17 40 57 16 9 6 10
Neutral 2 1 1 4 5 2 2 2 1
Result                  
Wins 11 2 16 42 58 8 9 7 11
Losses 9 2 11 28 39 13 6 5 9
Month                  
November 5 2 6 15 21 5 3 5 3
December 5 2 6 8 14 5 3 4 1
January 8 - 12 37 49 9 8 3 15
February 2 0 3 10 13 2 1 0 1

Splits Stats: Ball control totals

  gp off/40 def/40 reb/40 ast/40 to/40 stl/40 blk/40
Event                
Total 20 2.6 6.8 9.4 2.0 1.5 1.2 1.9
Conference 12 2.3 7.4 9.8 1.8 1.8 0.6 2.3
Exhibition - - - - - - - -
Location                
Home 7 2.2 6.3 8.4 0.7 1.0 1.0 2.2
Away 11 3.2 7.5 10.7 3.0 1.7 1.1 1.9
Neutral 2 1.2 4.7 5.9 2.4 2.4 2.4 1.2
Result                
Wins 11 2.9 7.5 10.4 1.4 1.6 1.3 2.0
Losses 9 2.3 5.9 8.3 2.8 1.3 1.1 1.9
Month                
November 5 2.4 6.1 8.6 2.0 1.2 2.0 1.2
December 5 2.5 3.3 5.8 2.1 1.2 1.6 0.4
January 8 2.5 7.8 10.3 1.9 1.7 0.6 3.2
February 2 4.3 14.3 18.6 2.9 1.4 0.0 1.4

Splits Stats: Ball control per 40 min

News mentions
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Late Second Half Push Dooms Lions at La Roche

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team was unable to get past La Roche, 77-72, Wednesday night.

February 5, 2025

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Alfred State Squeaks By Behrend

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team fell in the final minutes, 52-49, at Alfred State Wednesday night.

January 22, 2025

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Lions Handle Celtics, 92-76

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team was victorious over Carlow, 92-76, Monday afternoon in the Junker Center.

January 20, 2025

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Behrend Completes Homestand vs. Carlow on MLK Day

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team completes its three-game homestand with a battle vs. Carlow on Monday, Jan. 20.

January 19, 2025

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Four Lions Finish In Double-Figures To Put Away Hawks

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team was able to hold off Hilbert by a score of 74-68 Wednesday night in the Junker Center.

January 15, 2025

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Behrend Tripped Up By Pitt-Bradford Despite DiRienzo’s Game-High 34 Points

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team was unable to get past Pitt-Bradford in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC)...

January 11, 2025

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Lions Meet Panthers In AMCC Men’s Basketball Game of the Week

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team competes for the first time in the Junker Center in 2025 on Saturday, Jan. 11, taking on...

January 10, 2025

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Second Half Comeback By Behrend Comes Up Short At Altoona

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team came up just a bit short at Penn State Altoona Wednesday evening by a score of 78-76.

January 8, 2025

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Behrend Thwarts Late Comeback Attempt By Mounties

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team started the new year by holding off Mount Aloysius with a 72-65 road win Saturday afternoon.

January 4, 2025

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Men’s Basketball Ends Woodcliff Hotel and Spa Invite With Victory Over Canton

In their last action of 2024, the Penn State Behrend men’s basketball was victorious by a score of 74-63 against Canton on the final day of...

December 30, 2024

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Lions Fall At St. John Fisher In Wire-To-Wire Game

A strong second half for the Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team was not enough, falling 58-56 at St. John Fisher on the first day of...

December 29, 2024

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McDonough’s Season-High Propels Behrend Past Fredonia, 79-51

Four Penn State Behrend men’s basketball players scored in double-figures to help the team earn a 79-51 victory over Fredonia Saturday...

December 14, 2024

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Lions Unable To Overcome First Half Deficit vs. Redhawks

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team couldn’t overcome a 20-point first half deficit against La Roche, falling 75-59 on...

December 11, 2024

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Men’s Basketball Makes Late Second Half Push To Grab First AMCC Win of The Season

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team narrowly defeated Pitt-Greensburg, 79-72, to begin Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference...

December 7, 2024

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DiRienzo, Blankenberg Tally Double-Figures To Lead Lions In Season-Opener

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team picked up an opening night victory, 86-68, over Allegheny Friday night in the Junker Center.

November 8, 2024