Harrison Lilley

Staff Writer

hjl5363@psu.edu

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team’s six-game winning streak came to an end in a thrilling overtime showdown against top-ranked La Roche. In a fiercely contested battle at the Junker Center on Wednesday night, January 31, the Lions narrowly fell to the Redhawks with a final score of 71-69.

La Roche set the tone early with an impressive 18-8 run during the first 10 minutes of the game. However, Penn State Behrend mounted a resilient comeback, showcasing their determination with a 12-5 scoring run to narrow the deficit to 23-20.

With their fighting spirit intact, the Lions managed to take a 33-32 lead into halftime. Mason Blankenberg, hailing from Ontario, NY, and representing Wayne, proved to be a standout player, leading all scorers in the first half with 12 points and five rebounds.

The second half began with Behrend asserting their dominance, embarking on a 14-7 run to secure a 47-39 advantage with 12:25 left in the game. But La Roche refused to back down, mounting a comeback that turned the game into a nail-biting affair, featuring eight lead changes and six ties.

The game’s intensity reached its peak in the final moments of regulation, as La Roche had possession with the score tied at 64-64. However, the Redhawks missed two crucial layups, leading to an overtime period.

In the overtime thriller, Bryce Epps and Isaiah Thomas of La Roche rose to the occasion, sinking crucial shots to secure their team’s conference-leading 10th win and ninth consecutive victory.

Despite the loss, Mason Blankenberg stood out with a career-high 27 points on 12-21 shooting in a career-best 39 minutes, along with six rebounds. Tommy DiRienzo, from Pittsburgh, PA, continued his impressive season, tallying 25 points and six rebounds, marking his 18th double-digit scoring game and 10th with 20 or more points.

On the boards, RJ Marsh from State College, PA, secured seven rebounds, while Matthew McDonough from Pittsburgh, PA, registered five rebounds and four assists, with Marsh also recording three steals on the defensive end.

For the Redhawks, Isaiah Thomas led the way with 21 points, closely followed by Bryce Epps with 17 and Joe Starzynski with 16 points. Dominic Elliot and Michael Brooks played pivotal roles for La Roche, leading the team in rebounds with nine and eight, respectively.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Penn State Behrend managed to outscore La Roche in the paint (42-30) and off the bench (29-7) as a team, demonstrating their strength and depth. The Lions will look to regroup and bounce back as they continue their season in the AMCC.