Men's Basketball Opens 2019-20 Season at Thiel Tuesday Night

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team will open the 2019-20 season in Greenville, Pa. against the Thiel Tomcats on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the Beeghly Gymnasium.

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Penn State Behrend News & Notes

* Penn State Behrend, the reigning AMCC Champions, were tabbed to finish third in the AMCC Coaches Preseason Poll
* Last year, the Lions went 23-5 and 14-4 in the conference, winning their sixth overall title to advance to the NCAA Tournament
* Head Coach Dave Niland, who is in his 26^th season at the helm of the men's basketball program, enters the 2019-20 campaign with 496 career wins
* Last year, Behrend ranked third in all of Division III in scoring defense, allowing just 61.4 points per game
* The Lions enter this season with 16 returning players and six newcomers
* Juniors Kenny Fukon (Cranberry Township, PA/Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic) and Nolan Nuara (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) return after averaging 6.1 and 5.5 points, respectively

Thiel News & Notes

* The Tomcats opened the season on Friday at Division II Edinboro, falling 95-72
* Chima Omeihe led Thiel with 13 points and seven rebounds against the Fighting Scots
* Thiel was picked seventh in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Preseason Poll
* Nyric Gosley was listed as a Player to Watch for a second year in a row
* Gosley averaged 8.2 points per game and led the team in assists (81) last year

Series History

* The all-time series began in 1974-75
* Behrend leads the all-time series with Thiel, 30-18
* The Lions have won four of the last five meetings with their regional opponent, including a 63-46 victory last season in the Junker Center