Kovac and Saltzman Named to AMCC All-Conference Teams

Junior's Justin Kovac (Venetia/Peters Twp.) and Chris Saltzman (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic) were recently tabbed to the 2009-10 AMCC All-Conference Teams.  Saltzman was named to the AMCC First Team while Kovac was awarded with a Second Team selection.

Saltzman was a force all year long and really picked up his scoring from a year ago.  He went from averaging 9.0 points per game to 14.3 this year and improved on his rebounds per game by more than three boards a game.  Saltzman had some monster games this year including the opening game of the year against Fredonia State University in which he poured in 31 points.  In a key conference matchup with Pitt-Bradford, Saltzman had 28 points and grabbed a team high eight rebounds in the process.

Kovac, who returned after a knee injury from a year ago, showed no ill effects and is having a tremendous season for the Behrend Lions.  Kovac has handled the ball in crucial situations all year long and the coaches and other players look to him to run the offense.  He is averaging 9.7 points per game while dishing out a team high total of 117 assists.  Kovac currently ranks number one in the nation in assist/turnover ratio at 4.23.  The junior also shoots a team leading 83% from the free throw line.

The Behrend Lions finished the AMCC regular season at 14-6 and had an overall record of 18-8.  The blue and white drew the three seed in the conference tournament and opened with a 67-48 win over Penn State Altoona.  Behrend would falter in the semifinals losing to the two seed in Pitt-Bradford.  The blue and white were rewarded for a good season with an ECAC berth as the three seed as well.  Behrend defeated Misericordia University in the first round by a score of 79-73 in overtime.  Coach Niland's squad will travel to the host of the ECAC Tournament, Catholic College for their semifinal matchup against the Bethany Bison on Saturday, March 6.