BRADFORD, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's basketball team ended its 2018-19 season in thrilling fashion Saturday, knocking off Penn State-Behrend 74-70 at the KOA Arena on Senior Day.
"I'm so proud of the way the team played today and that they finished the season well," Head Coach Ryan Shay said following his first season at the helm of the Pitt-Bradford program. "We've talked a lot this year about continuing to work and hard and improve, and there's no question they did that. It was an exciting way to finish and I'm so happy for the seniors who lead the way for us today."
Prior to the start of the game, Pitt-Bradford honored its five seniors Reggie Rogers, Dylan Mitchell, Desmond Brogsdale, Jacob Sutton and Zach Reigel.
All five seniors started and four of the five scored in double-figures.
Rogers led the way with 15 points and seven assists while Mitchell dropped 14.
Reigel scored 12 points and Brogsdale poured in 11 points.
Penn State-Behrend (21-4, 14-4 AMCC) entered the KOA Arena having already clinched the AMCC No. 2 seed in next week's playoff tournament.
The Panthers (4-21, 3-15 AMCC) hung around all game and used key defensive stops to set up a chance to defeat one of the conference's best.
Up one point with just over a minute to play, Mitchell took a feed from Rogers and knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing to put the Panthers ahead 72-68.
Then later, Brogsdale collected a key steal with 15 seconds left as Behrend searched for a tying or winning bucket.
Neither team owned a solid advantage through much of the first half until a late Behrend run gave the Lions a 34-20 advantage at 4:53 mark.
Success at the free-throw line helped the Panthers climb back and Behrend took a 38-33 lead into the half.
Behrend held a steady lead through the second half and never put Pitt-Bradford away.
Reigel connected on a jumper in close to tie it at 64-64 with 3:50 left.
Later, the Panthers took a 69-68 lead on a Rogers acrobatic layup with a foul.
A defensive stop on the next possession set up for Mitchell's big three-pointer.
Then after a pair at the line and a Panther turnover, Brogsdale intercepted a pass, drew a foul, made both and put the game out of reach.
Pitt-Bradford outshot the Lions 48.1 percent to 40.7 percent.
The Panthers limited the turnovers with just 13 while forcing 19 Behrend turnovers.
After the Lions knocked down eight three-pointers in the first half, Pitt-Bradford held them to three makes from long range in the second half.
The Pitt-Bradford 2018-19 season comes to a close with the conclusion of Saturday's game. While the Panthers lose their five seniors, Pitt-Bradford prepares to bring back six members from this year's team in 2019-20.
