Men’s Basketball Hosts Carlow for First Matchup in Program History

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team begins Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) play against Carlow in the Junker Center on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Tip off is slated for 7:00 p.m.

Coverage:

Video | Live Stats | Game Notes

Behrend News & Notes:

* The Lions went 1-1 last week with an 80-69 victory over Baldwin Wallace and then falling for the first time this season at Allegheny on Saturday (73-67)
* Tommy DiRienzo (Pittsburgh, PA/Bethel Park) averaged 22.0 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game in Behrend's two games this past week
* On Tuesday, he led all scorers with a season-high 32 points to go along with 11 rebounds against the Yellow Jackets
* DiRienzo scored 17 of his 32 points in the second half, while Matthew McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) delivered 14 of his 18 points in the second period to help the Lions force the extra period. McDonough added a team-high three steals in Tuesday's contest
* This marked the fourth 30-point game for DiRienzo in his career as he tallied three 30-point games last season. He scored a career-high 35 points against Pitt-Greensburg last season, which was the last time he notched 30 or more points
* On the glass, RJ Marsh (State College, PA/Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy) tallied double-digit rebounds, pulling down 10 boards. He has collected 10 or more rebounds in all four of five games to start the season
* DiRienzo recorded a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Gators on Saturday
* His efforts earned him AMCC Athlete of the Week honors
* Michael Sopko (New Castle, PA/Neshannock) finished with a career-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds against Allegheny. He previously set his career-high with 12 points in Behrend's season-opener vs. Thiel

Meet the Opposition:

* Carlow has begun the season with a 2-4 overall record, dropping its last game at the Apprentice School (92-62) on Sunday, Nov. 19
* Sophomore guard Byron Gaskins leads the team in points per game (20.8) and rebounds per game (6.3)
* Fellow second-year players Galen Waters and Oscar Contreras average 13.0 and 12.5 points per game, respectively
* The Celtics are in their first season as a member of the AMCC and were selected to finish 10^th in the 2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll
* Gaskins and junior guard Riley Comforti were named as AMCC Preseason Players To Watch
* Head coach Tim Keefer is in his 10^th season at the helm of the men's basketball program

Series History:

* This is the first matchup in program history between the Celtics and Lions