BEHREND MEN'S BASKETBALL ADVANCES TO ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP

The Penn State Behrend men's basketball team defeated Westminster College 82-76 Saturday evening in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Confernece (ECAC) semifinals. 

Senior guard Malquan Pullium scored a game-high 21 points and sophomore guard Andy Niland added 12 second-half points to help the Lions (21-7) advance to the championship game Sunday afternoon against Stockton. The Ospreys defeated Bethany 83-63 to advance. 

Behrend and the Titans (17-12) played a tight first half, overall. After trading baskets through the first 10 minutes, Westminster mounded an 8-2 run to break open the game for the first time of the night. Behrnend then responded with a run of their own, outscoring the Titans 15-3 for the remainder of the half, making it a 40-30 game at the break.

Westminster came out hot to start the second half as they looked to get back into the game. Sophomore forward Justin Gorny scored the first bucket of the new half, but five straight buckets from the Titans offense brought the game back within one at the 16:57 mark, 42-41. 

For the next seven minutes, both teams were neck and neck with neither team leading by more than three points. A three from Marco Delorenzo gave Westminster their largest lead of the second half, putting his team up 61-56. 

Niland and Pullium hit back-to-back three's and the Lions again jumped ahead, 62-61. For the next five minutes Behrend and the Titans traded the lead seven times while sharing it three times. Sophomore forward Dan Wanker gave the Lions its final lead of the game at the 3:19 mark, putting them ahead 71-69. 

They would finish the game by outscoring Westminster 13-7 and completing the 82-76 win. 

Pullium finished the game shooting 9-for-14 from the field to tally his 21 points. He also pulled donw seven rebounds and recorded six steals. 

Niland went 5-for-11 from the floor to finish with 19 points. He dished out a team-high six assists and grabbed three steals.

Wanker added 13 to the effort after shooting 66.7 percent (6-for-9).