Mount Union preview: Men's basketball at Penn State Behrend Tournament
The games: Mount Union will play a pair of games Thursday and Friday in the Penn State Behrend Tournament in Erie, Pa. The Purple Raiders will play the host team at 7 p.m. Thursday and Juniata (Pa.) at 7 p.m. Friday.
The records: Mount Union is 2-0 after sweeping Whitworth (Wash.) 84-74 on Friday and Maryville (Tenn.) 99-75 at the M Club Tournament. Penn State Behrend (2-0) has defeated Thiel (Pa.) 65-50 and Bethany (W. Va.) 75-49. Juniata (1-1) lost to St. Vincent (Pa.) 73-67 and defeated Penn College 93-67.
Projected starters: Mount Union: 6-3 Sr. Collen Gurley (23.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game); 6-6 Jr. Christian Parker (12.5, 8.0, 0.5); 6-5 Gr. Sr. Braedon Poole (11.0, 7.0, 0.5); 6-3 Gr. Sr. Darrell Newsom (9.0, 2.0, 1.0) and 6-0 Sr. Chris Painter Jr. (4.0, 2.5, 3.5).
Penn State Behrend: 6-4 Jr. Tommy DiRienzo (19.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg); 6-8 Jr. Owen Flisnik (6.0, 4.5, 1.5); 6-1 Sr. RJ Marsh (10.0, 7.0, 2.0); 6-1 Fr. Matthew McDonough (11.0, 2.5, 1.5); 5-8 Sr. Matt Niland (4.5, 2.5, 1.5).
Juniata: 6-0 Soph. Mason Hardy (5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg); 6-8 Jr. Chase Husted (16.0, 4.0, 3.0); 6-5 Jr. Gabe Guidinger (9.0, 4.0, 0.0); 5-11 Jr. Kyle Ruggery (8.5, 3.0, 1.5); 6-3 Sr. Nick Rigby (9.5, 4.5, 2.5).
Notes: Gurley was named M Club Tournament MVP after scoring 27 points against Whitworth and 20 against Maryville. … A pair of newcomers had impressive debuts for the Purple Raiders. Senior transfer Jeffrey Mansfield (Wilmington) scored 23 points and had eight rebounds and four assists over 45 minutes last weekend. True freshman Corey Hudson (Pickerington) played 37 minutes and had 17 points, six rebounds and nine assists and displayed aggressive, lock-down defense. … Juniata’s Chase Husted was All-Landmark Conference second team selection last season. … Penn State Behrend’s RJ Marsh was third last season in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in 3-point shooting percentage (43.0).
Next: Mount Union visits Wooster November 23 for a 6 p.m. tip.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Mount Union men's basketball plays Penn State Behrend and Juaniata
