Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's basketball team opened their conference slate on Saturday in KOA Arena as they hosted Mount Aloysius to begin AMCC play. The Panthers built a 29-point second-half lead, but let the visitors back in the game, ultimately holding on for a 105-104 victory.
Braylen Salters got the Panthers started after a turnover on the opening possession, making a three to give Pitt-Bradford an early 3-2 lead. The visitors tied the game with a three after a Xavion Boone layup, but Salters made back-to-back baskets around a steal to restore the Panther lead. The Mounties stayed within one point until the 16-minute mark when Chris Martin made consecutive threes from the wing to push the lead to 7. Both teams struggled to score consistently for four minutes until Pitt-Bradford scored 7 straight to extend their lead into double digits. Salters and Jamarion Butler each made second-chance layups and then after a steal, Jesse Laster made a three, forcing a Mount Aloysius timeout with 11 minutes left in the half.
The Mounties slowly trimmed the lead to 6 points, however, the Panthers were able to respond. Rodd Yarbrough ended the Mountie run with a three and then following a Mount Aloysius layup, Pitt-Bradford scored 12 quick, unanswered points. Salters and Boone each made threes and then the Panthers converted 3 steals into two layups by Boone and a pair of Butler free throws, forcing another timeout. With three minutes left in the half, Salters finished another three-point play to put Pitt-Bradford ahead by 23. To close the first, the visitors went on a 13-0 run, sending the game to the break with Pitt-Bradford ahead 50-40.
Coming out of the half, the Panthers were able to energize the crowd with two high-flying plays in the first 90 seconds. With time running down on the shot clock on the first possession of the half, Boone floated a shot off the back rim and Jesse LAster read it perfectly soaring in for a one-handed putback slam. After an exchange of baskets and a Panther defensive stop, Butler lobbed a pass to Salters for an alley-oop in transition. The Panthers rode the momentum as the half continued, outscoring the Mounties 16-3 over the next 5 minutes. Keshon Kittrell scored 10 points in the run. Pitt-Bradford extended their lead up to the 10-minute mark when Samuel Brown made a tip-in to give the Panthers an 85-56 lead.
After the tip-in, the Panthers let off the gas, and the visitors began to build momentum. They started with a 6-point run that was slowed by a Rodd Yarbrough three-point play. A Laster layup put the lead at 26 with 8:29 on the clock, however, it was followed by a long scoring drought. The Mounties scored 15 unanswered to force a Pitt-Bradford timeout with their lead trimmed to 11. Laster hit a pair of free throws to get the Panthers back on the board, but the Mount Aloysius run continued. Following three Mountie layups, Pitt-Bradford seemed to switch momentum as Butler found Salters for another alley-oop. They could not take advantage of the play, and Mount Aloysius turned 2 turnovers into 5 points.
The teams exchanged free throws to keep the lead at 3, but after Boone made one of two, the visitors converted a three-point play to cut the PAnther advantage to just 1 point. On the ensuing possession, Laster missed a three, but was fouled don't he play, giving him three from the line. The senior guard stepped up and made all three to put Pitt-Bradford back up 4. The lead did not last long, as the Mounties made another three-point play to match the free throws. Both teams failed to score on their next possession and Pitt-Bradford called its last time out with a 1-point lead and 23 seconds remaining. Coming out of the time out, Laster drew another foul and made both from the charity stripe. The Panthers' defense stepped up on the next possession forcing an off-balance three and Butler collected the rebound. Butler was fouled and made the first free throw to give the Panthers a safe two-possession lead. He missed the second, and Mount Aloysius made a buzzer-beater from half-court to end the game with the score 105-104.
All five Pitt-Bradford starters finished in double-figures, led by Braylen Salters who finished with 22. He made 9-15 from the field and also tallied 5 steals. Jesse Laster scored 19, and made 10-11 from the line, including his last 9 to seal the Panther win. Point Guard Xavion Boone scored 16 on 7-12 shooting and led the Panthers with 9 rebounds. Jamarion Butler scored 14 and also added 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Keshon Kittrell was the final Panther to reach double figures, scoring 12. Rodd Yarbrough led the bench, scoring 9 points.
The victory keeps the Panthers undefeated at 6-0, and gets them off to a 1-0 start in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt with Houghton. The game has been advertised as a blackout, as the Panthers have asked fans to match them as they will wear their road black uniforms. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in KOA Arena.
