Lions Fall To Medaille in AMCC Opener

ERIE, Pa. - The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team fell to Medaille, 61-55 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action Wednesday night. 

Four clutch free-throws in the final seconds was enough to keep the Mavericks perfect on the season and secure the six point win.

The Lions and Medaille traded baskets all throughout the first half. Neither team gained much control with the first 20 minutes seeing four ties and eight lead changes. Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) dominated down low with 10 first half points, but four different Mavericks hit a three to take a 29-26 halftime lead.

With the second half underway, the back and forth battle continued. In the first ten minutes, neither team got up by more than three. The Lions got hot from long range, answering Medaille's four first half three's with four of their own. The course of the game changed with 3:12 to go though as the Behrend offense went cold.

The Mavericks ended the game on an 11-4 run in the final three minutes take home the victory.

Conley led the Lions with his first double-double of the season. The junior netted 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Pat St. Andrews (State College, PA/State College) chipped in eight points. Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley), Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley), and Evan Eaton (Mt. Lebanon, PA/Mt. Lebanon) each contributed seven points.

The Lions will be back in action on Saturday. Behrend will travel to Penn State Altoona to an AMCC game beginning at 3 p.m.