Penn State Behrend Men's Basketball Cruises into Second Round of NCAA Tournament with 83-62 Win over Farmingdale State
The
Penn Satate Behrend men's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament
second round with a 83-62 win over Farmingdale State on Friday, March 7 in a
first round game hosted by the University of Rochester. The Behrend
Lions (24-4) will now face regional host Rochester (21-5) on Saturday at
7:00 p.m.
Behrend saw five players reach double-figures and shot 56% for the game as
the blue and white rolled to a 21-point victory. Leading the way was
senior Kevin Buczynski
(Erie/Villa Maria) who poured in 21 points to go with nine rebounds, five
assists, and three blocks against the Rams. Justin Kovac
(Venetia/Peters Township) and Adam Kaiser (Erie/Cathedral Prep) combined for
eight of the team's 12 3-point baskets in the game. Each knocked down
four from beyond the arc as Behrend made 12-of-24 from long-range in the
game. Kovac finished with 14 points and five assists, while Kaiser
also scored 14 to go with five boards.
Also in double figures for the Behrend Lions were Tom Newman
(Girard/Northwestern) and David Gahan (Erie/East). Newman scored 11 to
go with five boards, while Gahan chipped in ten points and five rebounds.
Senior Dan Ziegler came off the bench to connect for eight points and snag
five rebounds.
The blue and white shot the ball well right out of the gate making 50% from
the floor (15-for-30) in the first half, good for a 41-36 lead at halftime.
In the second half things only got worse for Farmingdale as Behrend knocked
down two quick threes to jumpstart a 20-6 run to begin the second half.
After the break Behrend connected at a blistering pace, making 64%
(16-of-25) from the floor, including 7-of-12 from deep while clamping
down on the defensive end. Farmingdale came in as the fourth-best
offensive team in the country averaging 89.9 points per game, but shot just
37% against Behrend, the top team in the country in scoring defense.
Rochester advanced after defeating Middlebury 56-43 on Friday night.
With a win on Saturday, Behrend would advance to the NCAA "Sweet 16" and
play next week for a chance to head to the Final Four.