Behrend makes 13 triples in victory over Lions
2.9.08

(ALTOONA, PA:) Penn State Behrend used stifling defense and precision offense that produced 13 three-pointers to easily defeat host Penn State Altoona 69-40 Saturday afternoon at the Adler Gym.  The Erie Lions improved to 17-4 overall and 11-3 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference while Altoona dropped to 11-10 and 8-6 in the AMCC. 

The Behrend starting backcourt, Justin Kovac and Adam Keiser, combined to make nine treys, score 29 points, and dish out seven assists while committing just one turnover.  Kovac (15) and Keiser (14) were joined in double figures by swing guard Tom Newman who netted 11.  The Erie Lions finished 13-27 from distance for 48.1%.

Penn State Altoona committed 21 turnovers compared to just nine miscues by the victors.  Behrend, which finished with 14 steals, turned those Lion miscues into 31 points and also held a 24-10 advantage in the paint.

The contest wasn't totally one-sided as Altoona held a 16-10 lead with 5:21 left in the first half.  But Behrend finished the period on a 17-4 run capped by a Kaiser long ball with eight seconds remaining.  Two straight lay ups by all-AMCC forward Kevin Buczynski and one apiece from Adam Potter and Newman bounced the lead to 15 (35-20) less than three minutes into the second half.

A pair of 8-0 runs midway through the second half catapulted the Behrend lead before it reached 30 (69-39) with 2:22 remaining.  A total of 13 free throws were attempted

Junior Colin Geiger (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) was the top scorer in defeat with eight points in just 13 minutes of action.  The Lions made just 14 field goals on the afternoon, six from behind the arc, and shot 40% from the field (14-35).  Penn State Behrend shot 49.1% from the floor and made 16 of their 29 second-half buckets as it outscored Altoona 42-20 in the period.

The 40 points were the fewest in a game this season for Penn State Altoona, who got seven points from senior Quintin Dziabo (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria). 

The Altoona Lions return to action Wednesday, February 13, for an AMCC contest at Frostburg State.  Tip time in Frostburg is 8:00 PM.

CONTACT:        Penn State Altoona Sports Information
                           Steve Crider  --  SID
                           814-949-5173
                           sac310@psu.edu