Lions Fall to Pitt-Bradford in AMCC Action

BRADFORD, Pa - The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team fell to Pitt-Bradford Saturday afternoon 79-74 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action.

Evan Greening Scored 20 points and pulled down 17 rebounds to lead the Bobcats (5-6, 3-3 AMCC) over the Lions (9-4, 4-2 AMCC).

Conner McLaughlin (Ashtabula, OH/Edgewood) scored a career-high 18 points after shooting 60 percent from the field and draining three three-pointers. Mike Fischer (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) scored a season-high 16 points after going 5-for-8 from the floor.

Dan Wanker (Pittsburgh, PA/South Park) added 15 points and five rebounds while Justin Gorny added a doudle-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

After a back and forth game for the first 12 minutes, The Lions gradually pulled away from the Bobcats, increasing their lead to 11 with just over four minutes remaining in the half. However, Pitt-Bradford countered with a big run of their own, outscoring Behrend 18-6 to finish the half and headed into the break with a one point lead, 45-44.

Both the Lions and Bobcats shot over 50 percent in the first half, but four late three pointers from Pitt-Bradford helped mount their late comback heading into the half.

Wanker led Behrend in the first half with 11 points after shooting 66.7 percent from the field incuding two three-pointers. Gorny and Fischer both added nine points while McLaughlin added eight.

After finding themselves down by one point heading into the second half, the Lions drained two quick buckets to start the half and put them up by 3 points. The Bobcats answered by mounting their second large run and giving Behrend their largest deficit of the game, 62-51.

The Lions, however, weren't finished yet. Over the next five minutes they trimmed the Bradford lead and with the help of McLaughlin, tied the game 67-all with 4:06 left in the game. The game remained close down the stretch, but the Bobcats were able to pull away for the five-point win.

Behrend shot 45.3 percent from the floor but just 65.5 percent from the free-throw line. Pitt-Bradford shot 49.1 percent, going 28-for-57 as a team and drained 11 three-pointers.

The Lions will be back in action this Wednesday when Hilbert comes to town for an 8 p.m. tip-off following the women's game at 6 p.m.