Lions Unable To Overcome First Half Deficit vs. Redhawks

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team couldn't overcome a 20-point first half deficit against La Roche, falling 75-59 on Wednesday night.

Score: La Roche 75, Penn State Behrend 59
Records: La Roche (3-7, 1-2 AMCC), Penn State Behrend (4-4, 1-1 AMCC)

Key Moments:

* The Redhawks took a 15-4 lead in the first five minutes of Saturday's game, but Behrend was able score the next three baskets in two minutes to cut the deficit to only five (15-10)
* La Roche continued to extend its lead to 10 midway through the first 45 minutes
* Back-to-back jumpers by Michael Brooks and David Sledge gave the Redhawks their biggest advantage in the first half of 21 (44-23)
* La Roche headed into the locker room at halftime with a 49-29 lead, thanks to a Bryce Epps three-pointer with four seconds remaining in the half
* Epps led all scorers with 17 first half points on 5-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc
* The Redhawks would never look back in the second half, controlling the entirety of the game
* An Epps steal and fast break layup three minutes into the second half garnered La Roche its biggest lead of the night of 26 points (55-29)
* The Lions showed some life with seven minutes left in the contest with three baskets from freshman Nate Edwards (Girard, PA/Girard) to shorten the Redhawks lead to 12 (69-57)
* However, La Roche made some stops on the defensive end to run out the clock and grab its first conference win of the season
* Matthew McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) tallied a Behrend-high 14 points, while Edwards tied his career-high with 10 points off the bench
* Jake Ziegler (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) and Michael Sopko (New Castle, PA/Neshannock) each chipped in season highs for the Lions with eight points
* Epps finished with a game-high 22 points and four steals to lead the Redhawks. Isaiah Thomas scored nine points to go along with a game-high nine rebounds
* Behrend outscored La Roche in the paint (42-32) and in bench points (26-18)

Up Next:

* After a three-game homestand, the Lions are on the road for a non-conference matchup at Fredonia on Saturday, Dec. 14. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.