ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend Lions defeated the Thiel Tomcats Wednesday night 74-51 in the season opener for both teams.
 
PJ Gourley led the Lions with a game-high 25 points and also contributed eight rebounds. Kenny Fukon scored 16 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds while Tommy DiRienzo scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
Daquan Simmons (Capitol Heights, Md./Central) and Devin Christian (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) led the Tomcats with 10 points apiece in the non-conference game. Ahmad Tejumola (Waldorf, Md./Saint Charles) led Thiel with nine rebounds while also contributing seven points.
 
The Tomcats will compete in the Buzz Ridl Classic, hosted by Westminster College, on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Thiel will face Penn State Shenango at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Thiel will take on Capital at 5 p.m.