BEACON SPORTS
HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICES
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
NAME: Kevin Buczynski
SPORT: Men's Basketball
CLASS: Junior
DATE: December 3, 2006
Kevin Buczynski (Erie/Villa Maria) has been named the Housing .and
FOOdSeMees i Athiete 6f theVetk.
Buczynski put together a pair of impressive performances last week,
as the Behrend men started their conference schedule 2-0. Buczynski
chalked up a game-high 23 points along with eight boards in a 14-point
victory over Mt. Aloysius. He was 9-13 from the floor and 5-7 at the
line in 22 minutes of action. Buczynski stepped up again three nights
later when he led all scorers with a 26 point performance as Behrend
disposed of Frostburg State, 69-56.
Buczynski leads the Behrend Lions in both scoring (17.8 ppg) and
rebounding (6.6 rpg). The men will be in action in the Junker Center
on Saturday, December 9, when they welcome the Pitt-Greensburg
Bobcats at 8 p.m.
Housing and Food Services Athlete of the Week is selected by the
Sports Information Staff.
o g r eat in this
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Your participation will help make a
difference here at Behrend.
Committee members collect gift proposals,
and will help establish a list of three
potential gifts for consideration that
students will vote on as the 2007 Senior
Class Gift.
Volunteers are needed to assist with the
his •
CO/7 1Thit,
tLee is not limited
t°
If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, contact RebeccaGrimaldi at.. 698-6367 or rogl2@pmedu
voting process.
Mens basketball gets off to an
undefeated conference start
The Penn State Behrend Men's Basketball team is already
experiencing success this season. After finishing second in
their opening tournament, the team has jumped out to a 3-0
conference record.
The team opened its season with an impressive 65-50 win
over Elmira College in the annual Behrend Tip-Off
Tournament. Playing their trademark shutdown defense, the
Lions held Elmira to 37% shooting and forced a staggering 22
turnovers. After leading by only two at the half, Behrend
pulled away after the break, outscoring the Soaring Eagles 36-
23 in the second half.
Junior center Kevin Buczynski, last season's AMCC Player
of the Year, carried the offensive effort with 28 points, 12
rebounds, and a pair of blocks. Buczynski shot a near perfect
10-12 from the foul line. Also scoring double digits was soph
omore guard Tom Newman who contributed 13 points.
Behrend's win over Elmira advanced them into the tourna
ment championship game against Ohio Wesleyan. With a 96-
31 win over D'Youville in the semifinals, Ohio Wesleyan pre
sented few, if any weaknesses.
"They're an outstanding team in every way," Behrend head
coach Dave Niland said of Ohio Wesleyan. "They have very,
few weaknesses and to compete with a
team of that level is tough. They're
very disciplined at both ends of the
court."
After starting the game shooting a
frigid 39% from the floor, the Lions
found themselves behind quickly. The
Blue and White only managed to put 22
points on the board by halftime and
trailed 49-22 as they went to the locker
room. Although Behrend showed a few
signs of life in the second half, shoot
ing 15 of 25 from the field, the Lions
just couldn't handle the size of Ohio
Wesleyan. The Battling Bishops domi
nated, out-rebounding Behrend 34-18,
as well as holding all but one Lion
below double digits in scoring.
Freshman guard Justin Kovac con
tributed 10 points in the 84-64 losing
effort. Buczynski and junior center Dan
Zeigler were selected to the All-
Tournament Team.
In a non-conference game against
Allegheny College three days later, th`d
Lions took an 11 point lead into half
time. The Lions came out flat in the
second half, being outscored 35-23,
and dropped the close decision 55-56.
In their first conference match-up of
the season, Behrend defeated a tena
cious Mount Aloysius team 73-59.
Behrend blazed out of the gates with a
24-4 lead midway through the first half
and appeared to be cruising to an easy
win. Buczynski scored 16 of his teams
23 points in the first half and helped
lead the Lions to a commanding 43-23
halftime lead. After the disappointing
loss to Allegheny, the team knew no
halftime lead was safe.
"At halftime we spoke about Mount
Aloysius comeback ability and about
how we needed to stay focused and
take care of the ball," said Niland. Dave Gahan drives to the hoop for the Behrend Lions
Almost every graduating class since 1861 has made a memorable and lasting
gift to Penn State, showing their philanthmpic support of the University.
By Matt Waronker
staff writer
The Behrend Beacon I
Friday, Decmeber 8, 2006
However, despite Niland's precautions, the team entered a
second half that was hauntingly similar to that of the
Allegheny game. Ignited by a string a turnovers and a few hot
hands for Mount Aloysius, the Mounties surged back into the
contest. With barely six minutes left to play, Mount Aloysius
had cut Behrend's lead to two points.
"We turned the ball over and missed eight lay-ups," said
Niland of Behrend's second half difficulties. "It was not from
lack of effort, but the three point shot will keep people in
games and they hit three's."
The Lions, however, would respond in the closing minutes
of the game by going on a 16-4 run to claim their second win
of the season.
Riding the momentum of the Mount Aloysius win, the
Lions hit the road against conference foes Frostburg State and
Hilbert, and pulled off two decisive victories in the process.
The Blue and White calmly defeated Frostburg State 69-56.
Buczynski led the team in scoring in both games with 26
points against the Bobcats and 12 points against Hilbert. The
Lions manhandled the Hawks 59-39.
Behrend currently sits in second place in AMCC standings
with a 4-2 overall record. The Lions are an undefeated 3-0 in
conference play. The Lions continue in AMCC play, hosting
conference rival Pitt-Greensburg this Saturday, December 9.