Cleveland, Oh. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's basketball team traveled to Cleveland, OH. on Friday where they faced a tough challenge in the 13th-ranked Case Western Reserve Spartans in their first game at the Bill Sudeck Men's Basketball Tournament. The Panthers could not keep pace with the Spartans and lost the game 104-73.

The Panthers fell behind from the start, as the hosts were able to score on their first nine possessions of the game. A stepback three from Gus Napoleon and a mid-range jump shot from Jamarion Butler kept the Panthers within three after four minutes of play. Pitt-Bradford went cold for the next four minutes, allowing Case Western to build a double-digit lead.

The deficit grew to 27 by the 7-minute mark but the Panthers were able to battle, scoring on three straight possessions to cut into the lead. Butler started the run from the free throw line, and then after stealing the ball from the Spartans sprinted to the basket for the fast-break layup. On the ensuing possession, Samuel Brown blocked a pair of shots, and then Keshon Kittrell converted the stop into a lay-up. 

Later in the half, the Panthers cut the lead to 20 after a Jaedon Lawson three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Jesse Laster. Pitt-Bradford could not hold onto the momentum, however, as the hosts finished the half on a 15-2 run to send the game to the break with the Panthers trailing 62-29.

Case Western scored first in the second half before the Panthers hit back-to-back threes by Napoleon and Butler. The Panthers forced another stop a possession later and Laster, who assisted the two threes, made a jumper to cut further into the deficit. He added a free throw later on, but that was as close as Pitt-Bradford would get to the Spartans, as they quickly pushed their lead back above 30, where it would remain for the rest of the game. 

Jamarion Butler led the Panthers with 16 points. He made 7-12 from the field and made the only three he attempted. Jesse Laster added 13 points, making 9-10 from the free-throw line. Gus Napoleon also reached double figures. He made 3-4 from the field and was 2-2 from three and the line to finish with 10 points. 

Pitt-Bradford falls to 1-1 with the loss. They will be right back in action tomorrow, as they will play Waynesburg in the consolation game of the tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.