ERIE, PA -- The Fredonia men's basketball team dropped its season opener to Penn State Behrend, 75-46, on Wednesday. Ian Helps (Bronx, N.Y. / Greater New York Academy) led the Devils with 10 points and 5 rebounds. De'Quan Smith (Rochester, N.Y. / Penfield) and Dante Williams (Buffalo, N.Y. / Hutch Tech) added 8 points apiece.

The game was scoreless over the first three minutes until Helps converted a free throw. Behrend scored the next five points before Helps and Isaiah Ice (Bronx, N.Y. / Iona Prep) hit layups on the next two possessions to tie the game at 5-all.

From there, Behrend went on a 12-1 run to take a 17-6 lead it would hold the rest of the way. The Lions held a 31-22 lead at the break.

Behrend (1-0) was led by Andy Niland with 28 points and Dan Wanker with 11 rebounds.

From the field, Fredonia shot 36 percent (18-50), with Behrend connecting for 45 percent (28-62) of its shots. Behrend won the battle on the boards, 42-26, and made 11 three pointers to Fredonia's 4.

Fredonia takes on John Carroll on Friday at the Hilbert College Tournament.