AMCC MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: HILBERT AT PENN ST. BEHREND
This week's AMCC men's basketball game of the week features Hilbert College (13-2, 7-1 AMCC) and Penn St. Behrend (12-1, 7-1 AMCC), who both enter the game with indentical 7-1 AMCC records and sit at the top of the conference standings
AMCC Men's Basketball Game of the Week:
Hilbert College Hawks @ Penn St. Behrend Lions
Monday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m.
This week's AMCC men's basketball game of the week features Hilbert College (13-2, 7-1 AMCC) and Penn St. Behrend (12-1, 7-1 AMCC), who both enter the game with indentical 7-1 AMCC records and sit at the top of the conference standings. The Lions will be looking for revenge, as the #4-seeded Hawks upset the top-seeded Lions in the 2015 AMCC semifinal game 64-59.
The Hilbert Hawks continue to lead the AMCC in scoring (87.9 ppg), field goal percentage (49.2%) and blocked shots (4.4 bpg) while holding their opponents to 42.9% field goal percentage. Senior forward Jerame Owens, the AMCC Preseason Player of the Year, leads the Hawks with 17.3 points (60.9%), 9.8 rebounds and at 6’6” leads the league with 2.7 steals per game. Senior guard Sean Weisansal and sophomore guard Jalen Smith chip in double-digit scoring helping the Hawks to a 13-2 overall record.
The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team is riding an eight-game winning streak heading into Monday’s match-up. The Lions are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season when they started 20-1. Behrend has the sixth ranked scoring defense in the nation, allowing only 60.5 points per game overall and 58.5 in conference play. They lead the country with the fewest fouls committed (168), are third in fewest turnovers (133) and are fourth in assist to turnover ratio (1.59). The Lions are led by senior forward Zane Hackett. Hackett leads the team, and is second in the conference, averaging 19.2 points per game. He leads the conference in field goal percentage (61.9%) and rebounds per game (11.3). Hackett is 20 points shy of 1000 career points. Freshman guard Andy Niland has stepped into a big role to guide the Lion offense. He averages 13.8 points per game and leads the AMCC with a 45.1 three-point percentage. Behrend looks to avenge their semi-final defeat in the playoffs last season and get back to their winning streak against the Hawks, where they won the previous five meetings. The Hilbert high-scoring offense will be put to the test against the Lions’ shut-down defense.