Pioneers Lose Tight One to Behrend

The Alfred State men's basketball team couldn't keep up their hot shooting and saw Penn State Behrend rally for a 71-67 victory in the Pioneers home opener. The Pioneers led by 14, 45-31, at the half but shot only 32% in the 2nd half.

The Pioneers shot a blistering 64.3% from the field in the 1st half and built a 14-point halftime lead. During the opening half, they connected on six of their 10 three-point attempts.

In the 2nd half, Behrend held the Pioneers without a field goal for the first 10:30. During that time the Lions clawed back into the game and took a 50-48 lead. Once the Pioneers scored their first field goal of the half, the team went on a 15-4 run to grab a 63-54 lead. Behrend scored the next 11 points to regain the lead. Wade Franklin (Arkport) connected on two foul shots to tie the game up at 65-65 with just over a minute and a half left but Andy Niland answered with a three that gave the Lions the lead for good. 

Tyler Elliott (Perry) led the Pioneers with 15 points and nine boards while Marquis Edwards (Queens/In-Tech Academy) chipped in 10 points. Marcus Rhett (Middletown) added nine, Tyrone Davis (Brooklyn/Benjamin Banneker) finished with seven points and nine assists, and Franklin finished with seven.

Nilan led the Lions (1-1) with 19 points while Malquan Pullium finished with 13. Malike Brinson and Dan Wanker both chipped in 11.

The Pioneers shot 49.1% from the field for the game, 35% from three (only 1 for 10 in the 2nd half), and hit 61.5% of their foul shots. Behrend shot 39% for the game (44% in the 2nd half), connected on 11 three-pointers (32.4%), and hit 73.7% of their foul shot attempts. The Lions also held a slight 36 to 32 rebounding advantage.

The Pioneers head to Oberlin on Sunday for a 2 p.m. battle with the Yeomen.