Box Score

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IMMACULATA, Pa.- Anchored by big performances from juniors Jose Ortiz (game-high 22 points) and Mamadou Diakite (16 points, school-record tying 16 rebounds), the Immaculata men's basketball team (2-1) won their home opener, 78-70, over Penn State Berks (0-2).  Sophomore Tyreek Peeples chipped in 14 points and six assists as the other double digit scorer as the Mighty Macs won their second straight game.
 
The Mighty Macs took an early 1-0 lead on a foul shot by Diakite, but the Nittany Lions scored the next five points and had their lead as large as five at 11-6 early.  That's when Immaculata ripped off a 13-2 run to take a lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
 
Senior Brandon Smith (7 points, 9 rebounds) converted a traditional three point play before back-to-back three pointers from Diakite and Peeples gave IU a 15-13 advantage.  Ortiz then laid in the next two baskets to give the Mighty Macs a 19-13 lead with 9:57 to go in the first half.
 
Immaculata had their lead as large as 11 with free throws from Smith, Ortiz, and freshman Roy Ferrell Jr. (7 points, 5 rebounds) as they dominated the middle stretch of the first half. 
 
A lay-up from Diakite and a free throw from Ferrell Jr. gave the Mighty Macs a 37-28 lead at the break.
 
The Nittany Lions came out of the half on an 11-5 run in the first four minutes to trim the deficit to three points early in the second.  The Mighty Macs had a quick response, however, with a 7-1 run capped by two free throws from freshman Matt Simon (2 points) to put the lead back at arms' length.
 
The advantage for Immaculata got as large as 13 points with 2:57 to go with a jumper from Ortiz as they would hold on the rest of the way for a 78-70 victory.

The men's basketball team will have off for the Thanksgiving break before opening CSAC play at Centenary on December 2nd at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Diakite tied Jayson Hyman who also had 16 rebounds against Gwynedd Mercy (11/29/07).