DiRienzo, McDonough Named To Men’s Basketball All-Conference Team

ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend men's basketball senior Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) and junior Matthew McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) earned selection to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Men's Basketball All-Conference Team.

DiRienzo started all 25 regular season games, finishing second in the AMCC in points per game (20.1), total points (503) and made free throws (114). In 16 conference games, he led the AMCC with 21.5 points per game and 344 total points. DiRienzo was also second in the conference in made free throws (73) and three-point percentage (43.4) and tied for sixth in free-throw percentage (81.1). After one postseason game, DiRienzo stands second in the AMCC in points per game (20.0). To go along with his scoring, he recorded a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game and was second on the team in blocks per game (0.8).

This season, DiRienzo tallied double figures in 22 games and 14 of 16 conference games. During four contests this year, he delivered 30 or more points with two of the games being in conference play. He scored 40-plus points for the first time in his career with a career-best 42 points on 13 field goals and 15 free throws vs. Thiel. DiRienzo notched a double-double against Canton (18 points/10 rebounds) over Christmas break. He secured a season-high five three-pointers at Mount Aloysius, four assists vs. Pitt-Greensburg, and three steals vs. La Roche. He led the team in scoring in 16 games, in rebounding in nine games, in assists in four games, in steals in six games, and in blocks in 13 games this season.

McDonough also started all 25 regular season games, finishing 13^th in the AMCC and second on the team with 15.3 points per game. In 16 conference games, he tied for eighth in three-pointers made (29) and 14^th in field-goals made (87) and total points (245). McDonough ranked tied for first on the team with 2.3 assists per game and second with 0.8 steals per game.

During 22 contests this season, he registered double figures with 12 of them being in conference play, while scoring 20-plus points in four games with a season-high 28 points against Fredonia. McDonough recorded season highs in field goals vs. Carlow (nine), in three-pointers vs. Alfred State (five), in free throws vs. Hilbert (six), in rebounds vs. Penn State Altoona (seven), in assists vs. Alfred State (six), and in steals vs. Pitt-Bradford (three). He led the team in scoring in seven games, in rebounding in two games, in assists in five games, in steals in seven games, and in blocks in three games.

This marks DiRienzo's third All-Conference selection and second time selected to the First Team, while McDonough earn Second Team honors last season.