Lions Comeback to Defeat Altoona

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team erased a 21-point second-half deficit to knock off Penn State Altoona 61-52 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday.

With the first half underway, the two teams traded baskets through the game's first nine minutes.  After a Russ Conley (Transfer, PA/Reynolds) three at the 10:34 mark, the Lions trailed by just three.  Altoona started to get hot on the offensive end and opened up a 13-point lead over the final 10 minutes of the first half.  Two Conley free throws in the final seconds cut the Altoona advantage to 32-21 at the break.

Penn State Altoona was not backing down with their season on the line and came out fast in the second twenty.  Altoona scored ten unanswered to open the second half and led 42-21 at the 15:17 mark.  

The Lions were able to find some life on the offensive end, leading to a huge comeback.  Conley got Behrend going with two from the charity stripe.  After Pat St. Andrews (State College, PA/State College) nailed a three, the Lions had got within single digits. With the Behrend defense stifling Altoona, the offense continued to roll.  Shane Skelly (Westlake, OH/Westlake) got in on the action, scoring six straight and suddenly the Lions were leading, 44-42.  Behrend netted 23 straight points for their first lead since the opening two minutes of the game.

Durant Harvin gave Penn State Altoona the lead back with a three at the 5:02 mark, but St. Andrews answered with a triple of his own to give the Lions the lead for good.  Behrend went 6-for-6 from the line in the final minute to ice the game and earn the victory.

Conley and Skelly led the Lions with 13 points each.  As a team, Behrend shot over 93 percent from the line and won the rebounding battle, 26-22.

The Lions (17-8, 13-5 AMCC) have earned the third seed for the AMCC Tournament and will host Pitt-Bradford on Tuesday at 8 p.m.