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 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Video

The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team travels to Hamburg, NY on Wednesday night to face the Hilbert Hawks in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Men's Basketball Game of the Week at 6:00 p.m. Behrend and Hilbert are tied for third place in conference standings with identical 6-2 records.

Penn State Behrend suffered its first AMCC loss at home on Saturday when the Lions fell to undefeated La Roche, 57-55. It marked the first time the Lions lost when shooting better than the opponent this season. Junior G Kenny Fukon led the team with 14 points, while senior F Tyler Gates grabbed a career-high eight rebounds vs. the Redhawks. The Lions had a season-high 17 turnovers against La Roche and were held to seven field goals in the second half. Sophomore F PJ Gourley and Fukon are in the Top 10 in the AMCC in shooting percentage, as Gourley ranks second (64.2 percent) and Fukon is seventh (54.7 percent). 

Hilbert is off to the program’s best start dating back to the 2015-16 season when the Hawks played in the AMCC championship game. The 6-2 Hawks have four players who average double figure scoring led by senior point guard Hunter Martineau’s 15.4 points per game.  The nifty play-maker also leads the league for the fourth season in row in assists (7.4) with a 3.4 A/TO ratio.  His fourth-year sidekick, Masia Phillips chips in 14.8 points per game and those two both spend quality time at the free throw line averaging 15 attempts combined.  Senior Alex Karamanos has elevated his scoring to 10.2 points while continuing to focus on his defensive efforts hustling to loose balls and fighting for coverage on penetration to the hoop. A pair of freshmen have stepped into starting roles and have given the Hawks lifts at both end of the floor. Lazar Jovanovich has developed into an opposing coach’s nightmare when left alone on the perimeter, averaging 17 points per game over the last three games.  Jon Evans works inside the paint for a nine point/six rebound performance each evening.

 
Series History:
* The Lions hold a 34-9 all-time record against the Hawks
* The series history began in the 1992-93 season
* Behrend swept Hilbert last season (96-54; 85-80)
* Hilbert’s last win was a 69-54 decision on Feb. 14, 2018 in the Junker Center