AMCC MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: PENN ST. BEHREND @ HILBERT

AMCC Men's Basketball Game of the Week:
Penn State Behrend @ Hilbert College
Wednesday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m.

The AMCC men's basketball game of the week features two of the current top three teams in the league. Sitting at the top of the AMCC is Penn State Behrend (11-2, 6-0 AMCC), who is the only remaining undefeated team in conference play. Hilbert College (8-4, 5-1 AMCC) and La Roche College (8-5, 5-1 AMCC), with just one conference loss a piece, are tied for the second spot.

Penn State Behrend’s number one ranked defense has held opponents to an average of 57.6 points per game, and has been instrumental in helping the Lions maintain an undefeated record throughout conference play. Junior guard Andy Niland is tied for sixth in the country averaging 6.7 assists per game, while also recording 11.9 points and 2.3 steals per game. Junior forward Justin Gorny is shooting a conference best 49.1 percent from three-point range, averaging 15.5 points per game while pulling down 5.5 boards per game. Behrend holds a 31-8 edge in the all-time series against the Hawks, defeating them in eight of the last 10 meetings.

Hilbert College continues to find ways to win this season.  The Hawks just battled back from a 16-point deficit, going on a 27-4 run to beat Nazareth Monday (79-66).  The Hawks have multiple weapons offensively all generated from the team’s sophomore quarterback, Hunter Martineau who averages 6.4 assists while scoring 10.8 points and grabbing 5.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Masia Phillips has averaged 18.25 points over the last four games and responds from the foul line at the end of tight contests.  Junior forward Nicholas Parucki, senior guard/forward David Arlaud and junior forward Joe Braniecki do the dirty work in the lane scoring 10 points each and clearing the glass for six boards.  Freshman guard Antonio Alvarez can do damage from the perimeter and crashes the boards.