ERIE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team defeated Penn State Behrend Tuesday in overtime 72-70 to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 1999.
 
Thiel trailed 19-10 nine minutes into the contest, but buckets by R.J. Brownlee (Donora, Pa./Ringgold), A.J. Forbes (Lighthouse Point, Fla./Pompano Beach) and Ladell Trotty (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) late in the first half cut Penn State Behrend's lead down to four points at halftime (32-28).
 
The Tomcats took their first lead of the second half 1:57 into the period when Anthony Harvey (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) drained a jumper. Thiel went on to lead by six points, 59-53, with 2:08 left in regulation when Harvey hit a three-pointer, but Penn State Behrend outscored the visiting team 9-3 down the stretch to force overtime.
 
Thiel eventually earned the win in overtime at the charity stripe, making 4-of-6 foul shots over the final 1:39 of the extra session to improve to 3-0.
 
Chace McKinney (Boardman, Ohio/Kennedy Catholic) led the Tomcats with 17 points. Forbes scored 14 points and tallied nine rebounds while Trotty, Harvey and Kamran McCaskill (Carol City, Fla./Miami Beach) each scored 11 points.
 
Russ Conley recorded game-highs in points (23) and rebounds (12) for Penn State Behrend.
 
Thiel (3-0) will open PAC play at home on Nov. 28 against Geneva College. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.