Harrison Lilley

Staff Writer

hjl5363@psu.edu

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team showcased their resilience and tenacity as they battled to a hard-fought 60-53 victory over Wells in an intense matchup at the Junker Center on the evening of Monday, February 5.

The game featured a thrilling first half characterized by a relentless back-and-forth exchange, with five lead changes and two ties keeping both teams on their toes. The largest lead for Penn State Behrend was six points, while Wells managed to notch a four-point lead during the initial period.

Mason Blankenberg, hailing from Ontario, NY and representing Wayne, played a crucial role for the Lions in the first 20 minutes, contributing 10 valuable points off the bench.

The second half continued to see a tightly contested battle, with neither team able to establish a lead of more than eight points. In the final minutes of the game, RJ Marsh from State College, PA and Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy stepped up with clutch offensive rebounds, providing Behrend with critical second-chance points. These plays were instrumental in securing the Lions’ 10th conference win of the season.

Marsh’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he recorded his second consecutive double-double and third of the year, tallying an impressive 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Blankenberg continued to make his presence felt with 14 points and two steals, while Tommy DiRienzo, a product of Pittsburgh, PA’s Bethel Park, contributed 10 points and four rebounds. Michael Sopko, hailing from New Castle, PA’s Neshannock, made a significant impact on the glass, pulling down seven crucial rebounds.

On the opposing side, Terrance Clayton-Murphy led the charge for Wells with a game-high 24 points, while Chase Welch chipped in 12 points. Ransel Rodriguez made his presence known with nine rebounds.

Team statistics reflected Penn State Behrend’s dominance in various aspects of the game, as they outrebounded the Express 36-24 and outscored them in the paint 40-26. The Lions also showcased their depth with a commanding performance off the bench, outscoring Wells 22-6, and displayed their determination with a convincing advantage in second chance points, outscoring their opponents 11-2.

With this victory, Penn State Behrend improved their record to 15-6 overall and 10-4 in the AMCC, while Wells fell to 4-17 overall and 3-11 in the AMCC. The Lions continue to build momentum as they approach the latter stages of the season, demonstrating their potential as a force to be reckoned with in the conference.