AMCC MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: HILBERT AT BEHREND

AMCC Men's Basketball Game of the Week:
Hilbert College @ Penn State Behrend
Wednesday, January 11 at 8:00 p.m.

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team will host Hilbert College at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference game of the week. The Lions (9-4, 4-2 AMCC) have lost their last two games, both AMCC, and are looking to get back on the winning track at home. They currently sit in third place in the conference behind Medaille College (5-1) and La Roche College (6-0). The Hawks (7-6, 4-3 AMCC), defending AMCC regular season champions, are in fourth place right behind Behrend.

Despite missing the last two games, sophomore guard Andy Niland leads Behrend in points per game (15.0), steals (18) assists (47) and free throw percentage (90.7). Senior guard Malquan Pullium is averaging 13.3 points per game and has shot 48.4 percent from the field while averaging 31.8 minutes per game. The Lions are led down low by sophomore forwards Dan Wanker and Justin Gorny, who have controlled the boards so far this season, each pulling down 85 rebounds. Wanker is averaging 11.7 points per game while Gorny is adding 9.9.

Hilbert is once again an offensive-minded team, leading the league in scoring (83.8 ppg) and field goal percentage (47.4%) and will battle against a gritty defensive focused program. The Hawks have four players averaging double-figure scoring, led by junior guard Jalen Smith who is second in the league with 18.8 points per game. Senior guard Kirkland Ottey knocks down 43.8% of his 3-point attempts off the bench. Sophomore forward Nick Parucki trails with 13.7 points per game and leads the league in field goal percentage with 61.2%. Junior forward Derek Carman hits at a 55.9% rate and adds 7.5 rebounds per game with a 12.0 points per game scoring effort. Those two post players will have to battle against one of the best defensive teams in league.