Second Half Surge Propels Lions

BRADFORD, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team knocked off Pitt-Bradford 60-53 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Thursday evening.

In an all around team effort, the Lions (11-5, 7-2 AMCC) were able to overcome a late deficit to notch their sixth win in seven games.

Behrend only managed three points within the game's first six minutes until junior guard Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley) found some rhythm from beyond the arc.  With the Lions trailing 11-3, Courneen nailed back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to three.  Behrend used the momentum swing to eventually pull even with the Panthers at the break.

Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds), who is averaging an AMCC-best 21.7 point per game, was held in check during the opening stanza, but erupted to start the second half.  The senior center scored the Lions' first eight points of the second twenty.  The Behrend offense went cold though, going scoreless for over four minutes midway through the second half as Pitt-Bradford built a six point lead.

Despite turning the ball over 15 times, the Lions battled through the adversity and relied on their stingy defense to get back in the game.  Behrend allowed just one made field goal over the final eight minutes and outscored the Panthers 19-6, turning a six point deficit into a seven point win.

Conley finished the game with 22 point and six rebounds.  Courneen chipped in nine first half points with Adam Palcic (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic) netting all nine of his points in the second half.  Palcic, who is averaging over 10 rebounds a game in the Lions' last three outings, pulled down a game-high nine boards as well. 

The Lions will have a quick turnaround, hosting Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday at 4 p.m.