The No. 5 Penn State Behrend men's basketball team battles No. 4 Saint Vincent College in the Eastern Collegiate Athletics Conference (ECAC) Men's Basketball Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 2, hosted by Juniata. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. The winner of this contest will play the hosts in the semifinals on Sunday at 2 p.m.
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This marks the 19th appearance for the Lions in the ECAC Tournament, the last time being the 2021-22 season where they fell to Rutgers-Newark in the semifinals (66-50). Last Saturday, Behrend couldn't overcome La Roche in the AMCC Championship game, falling 80-69. Tommy DiRienzo recorded a double-double in the conference tournament, averaging 20.5 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game to earn All-Tournament Team honors. This week, DiRienzo was announced as the AMCC Player of the Year, becoming the 12th player in Behrend program history to earn this honor. The Pittsburgh native finished the regular season as the AMCC leader with 468 points, first in the conference in free-throw percentage (83.7), and second in points per game (18.7). Sophomore guard Matthew McDonough claimed all-conference second team honors, ending the regular season with a conference-high 70 made three-pointers (2.9 per game) and sixth in three-point percentage (40.9). Mason Blankenberg was also named to the AMCC All-Tournament Team, tallying 12.5 points per game in two contests. Behrend is looking to win its third ECAC title and first since 2010.
Saint Vincent comes into Saturday's contest with a 23-4 overall record, falling to Geneva College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship (83-63). Dev Ostrowski led the Bearcats with 21 points and nine rebounds on Saturday against the Golden Tornadoes. Sophomore forward Jaden Gales was selected PAC Most Valuable Player and the All-PAC First Team, while Ostrowski earned Second Team All-PAC and Mike Iuzzolino notched Honorable Mention. Gales leads the team with 17.8 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game. Ostrowski (17.3 ppg), Osyon Jones (15.1 ppg), and Iuzzolino (12.5 ppg) also average double-figures. This is the Bearcats first ECAC appearance since they defeated Post in the Division II Championship in 2008.
Saint Vincent leads the all-time series, 12-5. The Lions and Bearcats have not met since the 1991-92 when Behrend scored a 66-62 victory.
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