Pittsburgh, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford traveled to Pittsburgh on Saturday for an AMCC matchup with conference newcomers Carlow. The Panthers could not break away from the Celtics early but outscored the hosts by 14 in the second half to win the game 89-71.
The Panthers started slowly as they committed a pair of turnovers before Gus Napoleon got the scoring started with a fast break layup after a minute and forty seconds. Coby Farley put the Panthers in front for the first time with a three, but the Panthers were then outscored 8-4 as the Celtics were able to take a one-point lead from the free throw line with over 11 minutes remaining in the half. Jamarion Butler quickly put Pitt-Bradford back ahead with a steal and a fast break layup and then he converted a Trey Davis block into a three-point play on back-to-back possessions. A Carlow three tied the game at 18, but the Panthers responded, going on a quick 7-1 run to jump ahead and build a lead that they would not relinquish. Farley started the rally with his second three of the game before Butler made a pull-up jumper and then threw down a one-handed slam dunk after an offensive rebound to punctuate the run.
The Pitt-Bradford lead grew to 8 points after a Jesse Laster layup, but the Celtics were able to battle back and eventually cut the Panther advantage down to one point with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Davis stopped the rally and went on a personal 8-0 run to extend the lead. He made back-to-back threes and then after grabbing a rebound on the defensive end, drove to the basket for a layup. The Celtics were able to finish the half strong, scoring 5 unanswered in the final 36 seconds to send the game to the break with the Panthers ahead 39-35.
Butler got the second half started for the Panthers, driving to the basket for a layup before Napoleon hit a three from the corner to put the Panthers up 7. While the hosts rallied and cut the lead down to 3, Laster finished a slam dunk and Davis hit another long ball to keep the Panthers in front. The Celtics eventually rallied to reduce the Panther advantage to 1 point at 51-50, but Coby Farley hit a pair of three-pointers to keep Pitt-Bradford ahead. With a five point lead and 10 minutes to go, the Panthers locked down defensively, holding Carlow to one point over three minutes. In that span, Pitt-Bradford scored 10 points to open up a double-digit lead. Butler scored 5 in the rally while Samuel Brown and Laster added layups.
Carlow ended the run with a three, however, the Panthers were able to keep the momentum on their side as Napoleon immediately answered with a three-pointer of his own. Following a Pitt-Bradford timeout, the Panthers put together another run, scoring six unanswered over two minutes, extending their lead to 20. Davis made three free throws to set the Panther's largest lead at 21 before both teams made mass changes for the final three and a half minutes. KEshon Kittrell scored 5 points in the closing stages, including a three-point play in the final minute, while freshmen Mason Emerson, Matt Pannes, and Xavion Boone Roberson all added a free throw.
Jamarion Butler once again led the Panther's offensive effort. He made 10-15 from the field to finish with 24 points. He also tallied 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Trey Davis and Coby Farley each reached double figures off the bench, as Davis scored 14 with 7 rebounds, while Farley added 13. Two other Panthers reached double figures in the game. Jesse LAster scored 13 points, making 6 of 8 from the field, while also totaling 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a pair of blocks. Gus Napoleon finished with 10. Samuel Brown was the PAnthers leading rebounder, as he pulled in 8 during the game.
The win moves the Panthers to 9-4 on the season. They are also 5-1 in AMCC play, putting them alone at the top of the conference standings. They will look to stay there with a pair of crucial road contests next week. They will travel to Alfred State on Wednesday, before taking on Pitt-Greensburg over the weekend. Tipoff for Wednesday's game at Alfred State is slated for 7:00 p.m.
