Behrend Claims Top Spot in AMCC With Win Over La Roche

ERIE, Pa. –Russ Conley dropped a double-double to help Penn State Behrend defeat La Roche in front of a packed crowd at the Junker Center in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action, 67-41, to snap the Redhawks (17-2, 11-1 AMCC) 16 game winning streak, Saturday.

Conley scored a game-high 19 points, pulled down 10 boards and blocked two shots while Chris Saltzman put up 12 points and four rebounds for the Lions (16-2, 11-1 AMCC) in the win. Justin Kovac ended the game scoring nine points and dished out four dimes.

La Roche was led by Joel McIntosh and Laron Mann. McIntosh tallied 15 points while Mann netted 12 on 7-for-8 shooting from the charity strip.

Saltzman finished a three-point play early in the first half (15:22) that gave Behrend a 7-6 lead. The Lions wouldn't look back from that point on, holding La Roche to only nine additional points and 22.6 percent shooting from the field for the half. The men took a 13-point advantage going into the locker room, (26-15) despite turning the ball over a season-high nine times in the opening 20 minutes.

Behrend opened the second half by cruising to an 18-point lead thanks to a Pat St. Andrews hook-up from long range, 39-21, with 14:59 on the clock. La Roche attempted to mount a comeback but the Lions defense turned the Redhawks over six times in the remaining minutes.

Behrend's bench outscored La Roche 21-2 thanks to Nick Dvorsky and Shane Skelly who each netted eight in the 64-41 win. This victory moves Behrend to the top of the AMCC standings.

The Lions will venture to Buffalo, NY to take on D'Youville, Wednesday at 8 p.m.