Behrend Thwarts Late Comeback Attempt By Mounties

CRESSON, Pa. – 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.

Score: Penn State Behrend 72, Mount Aloysius 65
Records: Penn State Behrend (7-5, 2-1 AMCC), Mount Aloysius (3-8­, 1-3 AMCC)

Key Moments:

* The Lions started the game on a 15-6 run in first 10 minutes that was capped off by a James Wesling (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) three-pointer to force a Mount Aloysius timeout
* Behrend utilized its strong start to push the lead to 10 points (35-25) heading into halftime
* Matthew McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) led all first half scorers with nine points, while Michael Sopko (New Castle, PA/Neshannock) grabbed nine rebounds to go along with seven points in the first 20 minutes
* The Lions took their largest lead of 15 (47-32) with 13:11 on the clock in the second half, thanks to another basket from deep by Wesling
* Mount Aloysius went on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to 51-46 with 10 minutes remaining, forcing a Behrend timeout
* Will Hagwood hit a three-pointer with three minutes left to dwindle the Lions advantage on only one (61-60)
* In the final minute, Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) made a jumper and a pair of free throws to help secure the team's seventh overall and second conference victory of the season
* DiRienzo recorded a game-high 25 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field, 5-for-9 from three, and 6-for-6 from the line. He also pulled down eight rebounds
* Mason Blankenberg (Ontario, NY/Wayne) tallied 13 points, while Sopko registered his first career double-double off the bench. Sopko finished with a season-high 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds
* McDonough delivered a career-best six assists to go along with nine points on Saturday
* Hagwood led the Mounties with 19 points, while De'Von Haggans and Troy Tinch each had 13 points and eight rebounds
* Behrend narrowly outrebounded Mount Aloysius (33-31) and trumped the Mounties in second chance points (11-5) and bench points (16-8)

Up Next:

* The Lions remain on the road at Penn State Altoona on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.