GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team lost a non-conference game to the Penn State Behrend Lions, 65-50 to open the season.
 
The Lions would open the game on a 12-3 run and would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the game.
 
Tommy DiRienzo paced the Lions with 18 points to go along with two rebounds and one assist. RJ Marsh led the Lions with nine rebounds, and Owen Flisnik led the team with three assists. The Lions shot 41% from the field, including 32% from three-point range.
 
For the Tomcats, Ahmad Tejumola (Waldorf, Md./Saint Charles) led the team with 10 points. Marlon Ellerbee (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) recorded nine points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds. Ellerbee also had two steals. Elijah Harden (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) and Mike Brown (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) each recorded their first collegiate points tonight.
 
The Tomcats are back in action this weekend when they compete in the Buzz Ridl Classic hosted by Westminster. On Friday, Thiel will face Penn State Shenango at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Thiel will take on Southern Virginia University at 12 p.m.