Alfred, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Men's Basketball team traveled to New York on Wednesday night to take on Alfred State in the AMCC Game of the Week. The Panthers battled with the Pioneers, exchanging the lead nine times in the last five minutes, but fell short in the final moments, falling 80-78.
The hosts took the early lead in the game, but the Panthers quickly bounced back, as Xavion Boone Roberson and Gus Napoleon both made baskets inside to put the Panthers ahead. Napoleon, Jesse Laster, Sam Brown, and Jamarion Butler all made field goals over the next few minutes, but Pitt-Bradford was unable to pull away as the hosts answered with layups of their own to stay within one possession.
The Pioneers were able to take a short-lived lead at 14-13 with 11:42 on the clock, however, Pitt-Bradford was able to respond with a 14-2 run to open up a double-digit advantage. Butler scored 9 points in the rally, while Coby Farley added a layup and Laster converted a three-point play. After three Alfred State free throws the Panthers extended the lead to 12 as Butler made a jumper and Laster threw down a two-handed slam dunk with 3:24 left in the half. Unfortunately, the Panthers were not able to add to the lead in the remaining three minutes, as the hosts closed the 1st with an 8-0 run, sending the game to the break with Pitt-Bradford ahead 31-27.
At the start of the second half, the Pioneers quickly closed the lead with an opening three and an early free throw. The Panthers were able to stay in front for the next few minutes, as Boone Roberson drove to the basket for a pair of layups, and Butler, Laster, and Keshon Kittrell all scored inside. While they were having success on the offensive end, the Panthers could not get a stop defensively, as each basket was answered immediately by the Pioneers. Following the Kittrell basket, they went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead and go ahead by 5. The lead reached 6 after a Trey Davis layup was bested by a Pioneer three, but the Panthers were able to chip away at the lead until they went back ahead with 9 minutes to go with a pair of Davis threes.
The Pioneers scored 4 straight to retake the lead, but a Butler layup followed by a lone free throw from Boone-Roberson set up a one-point game that would see five quick lead changes in under two minutes. Butler drove to the basket for a layup for the first lead swap, and then after an Alfred State Jumper, Napoleon did the same. Davis followed a subsequent layup with another three, giving the Panthers a two-point edge. Alfred State was able to tie the game at 72 before LAster drilled a three to put Pitt-Bradford ahead 75-72. The advantage did not last long, as the Pioneers retied the game at 75 on the following possession with an old-fashioned three-point play.
The hosts went ahead by two with another layup a possession later, and after a two-for-one exchange following a Farley free throw, led 79-76 with 30 seconds left. Farley drove inside for a layup to cut the lead to one. The Panthers fouled after the basket and then had a chance to go ahead when the Pioneer shooter missed the front end of the one-and-one. Pitt-Bradford was not able to take advantage of the situation, as on the next possession the hosts were able to draw a charge to turn the ball over. With seconds remaining, Alfred State missed the second free throw to start the clock and Farley's desperation heave was released just after the buzzer, finishing the game.
Jamarion Butler finished with a game-high 24 points. He also finished with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Trey Davis added 15 points off the bench, making 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. He also had 7 rebounds. Jesse Laster was the final Panther to reach double figures, finishing with 12. Sam Brown led the Panther rebounding effort with 8 in 13 minutes of action.
The loss drops Pitt-Bradford to 9-5 overall with a 5-2 record in AMCC play, putting them in a three-way tie at the top of the conference standings with Alfred State and Penn State-Altoona. The Panthers will be back on the road for the third straight contest this weekend, as they head to Pitt-Greensburg for a crucial AMCC battle. Tipoff is slated for 4:00 p.m.
