Behrend Shoots Past Pitt-Bradford, 90-71

BRADFORD, Pa. – Shane Skelly (Westlake, OH/Westlake) and Casey Courneen (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley) each scored 20 points with four members of the Penn State Behrend men's basketball team reaching double figures in a 90-71 victory over Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday night.

The Lions (9-2, 3-1 AMCC), perhaps stir crazy following three days of frigid weather in Erie, had their best shooting night of the season, going 62.5 percent from the field and 13-of-14 from the foul line. Behrend's previous high came when they shot 56.9 percent from the field in a 77-64 win over Allegheny on November 23.

Mike Knoll (Cathedral Prep/Erie, PA) added 18 points on 9-11 shooting for the Lions, who are in the midst of a season long four game winning streak.

After Tyler Fantaskey hit a jumper to put the Panthers (6-5, 2-2 AMCC) ahead by one with 8:25 left in the first half, Behrend quickly stemmed the tide. The Lions went on a subsequent 16-2 run to take a 13 point lead. The spurt was keyed by eight Courneen points -- including two threes -- over a three minute and 18 second span.  

Bradford would bounce back, however, and following a Brandon McClester jumper with 38 seconds left in the half, it looked as if the Behrend's halftime lead would be cut to six. But Mike Knoll was able to give the Lions an eight point lead – and the momentum – with a layup just before the halftime buzzer sounded.

Following a back and fourth start to the second half that saw the Panthers get as close as four, Behrend took control for good. After going on a 16-2 run to take command of the first half, the Lions this time went on a 14-2 surge and put the contest away.

This run was buoyed by freshman Malquan Pullium (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) who scored five points over a 38 second interval.

Skelly put the finishing touches on the evening with a slam dunk – his nineteenth and twentieth points of the night – to put the final score at 90-71. The senior's 20 points were a new career high.

Nick Delisio (Aliquippa, PA/Central Valley) scored 12 points with six assists and Keith Wallace (Erie, PA/Central Tech) contributed from all angles scoring seven points and tallying seven assists to go along with five rebounds and two steals.

Behrend will return to the Junker Center for the first time since December 14 when they battle Franciscan on Saturday, January 11 at 2 p.m.