Lions Cash In From Charity Stripe

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team converted 18-of-22 free throws en route to defeating Hilbert 68-61 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Monday night.

In an evenly matched game, the Lions (10-5, 6-2 AMCC) doubled up the Hawks at the charity stripe to get back in the win column.

The first half saw 10 lead changes with the biggest advantage of six held by the Lions.  With less than seven minutes to play in the first half, Behrend had built a 19-13 lead but Hilbert chipped away down the stretch and only trailed by one at the break.

The momentum began to swing with a run by the Lions at the 15:18 mark.  Mike Knoll (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) hit a jumper followed by a Rob Zewe (Pittsburg, PA/Baldwin) three and suddenly Behrend was up seven.  Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA /Quaker Valley) added a layup between four Shane Skelly (Westlake, OH/Westlake) free throws and in four-minute span; Behrend increased their lead from four to 11.

With less than four minutes to play, Nick DeLisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley), Keith Wallace (Erie, PA/Central Tech), Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds), and Pat St. Andrews (State College, PA/State College) combined to shoot 9-of-12 from the free throw line to ice the game.

The Lions' 18 made free throws were the most in a game this season that did not go into overtime. 

Conley led all scorers with 22 points to go with six rebounds and three blocks.  DeLisio, St. Andrews, and Zewe each registered nine points.

Behrend will be back in action on Thursday at Pitt-Bradford.  Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.