Three-pointers sink Men’s Basketball in loss to Penn State Behrend

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball fell to Penn State Behrend, 75-50, in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action at Donahue Pavilion Tuesday night.

The Lions (10-9, 5-5 AMCC) sank 14 three-pointers and prevented all but one Carlow player from scoring double figures on the night.

Adnan Sbai (Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro Area HS/Seton Hill University) led the Celtics (3-14, 2-7 AMCC) with a game-high 19 points. Riley Comforti (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland HS) dished out four assists, and Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) picked up three steals in the effort.

Trailing 6-5 early in the first half, Nehemiah Brazil (Pittsburgh, Pa./Nazareth Prep HS) grabbed his own offensive rebound and put back a layup that set off an 11-2 run for the Celtics that spanned almost five minutes. Three treys in a row saw the Lions trailing by two, and a layup tied the game at 21-all with 5:51 remaining in the half. Another three gave Penn State Behrend the lead, as the Lions held onto their marginal 29-23 advantage heading into halftime.

The Lions started the second half with three treys in a row to push their lead to 12 points early on. Penn State Behrend held Carlow scoreless for almost four minutes before Jimmy Giannetta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Saint Joseph HS) sank two free throws, with Carlow trailing by 14.

The Lions went on a 9-2 run over the course of three minutes to gain a 23-point advantage over the Celtics with 5:42 remaining in regulation. Carlow continued to battle, but it was too little, too late.

Both teams scored 26 points apiece in the paint. Penn State Behrend outscored Carlow 33-10 off the bench and outrebounded the Celtics 40-31 on the night.

Tommy DiRienzo led the Lions with 18 points. Matthew McDonough added 12 points and four assists, while Dolan Waldo contributed 10 points off the bench.

The Celtics travel to Hilbert College for a 1 p.m. AMCC game Feb. 1.