Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's basketball team hosted its final regular-season home game on Saturday, as it took on Carlow in KOA Arena. After a slow offensive start, the Panthers used a 28-3 run to open up a commanding lead that led to a 96-71 victory.
Before the tipoff, the Panthers took a few moments to recognize 6 graduating seniors. Tra Edwards, Xander Norris, Logan Joncas, Coby Farley, Niare Poplar, and Tommy Walton were all honored with their friends, families, and teammates. Poplar is in his only season with the Panthers, while Edwards, Norris, and Walton all joined last season. Farley has played 3 years for Pitt-Bradford, while Logan Joncas is a four-year letter winner.
The Panthers struggled to find their range early, as it took them over two and a half minutes to get on the board, using a Joncas three from the wing. It began a 10-0 run that included a three-point play by Poplar and additional layups from Jeremy Rodriguez and Clarence Cobbins. After the Celtics cut the lead to one, Rodriguez made a three-pointer to keep the Panthers in front. A minute later, Norris converted inside, but Carlow answered and tied the score at 15 with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
The Celtics called a timeout after tying the score, but it was the Panthers who would respond, going on their huge scoring run to break open the game. Poplar put the Panthes in front with a three, and then after an Edwards pull-up jumper, Cobbins threw down a fast-break dunk. The visitors slowed the run with a three; however, the Panthers caught fire from beyond the arc. In three minutes, the Panthers made 5 unanswered threes. Norris hit the first two, and then Rodrigeuz quickly scored 5 on a dunk and a three. Joncas followed with another long ball before Farley ended the run with another. Xavion Boone and Cobbins each added layups before Carlow finished the half by scoring the last 5 points of the period, sending the game to the break with Pitt-Bradford leading 43-23.
Edwards got the second half started with a pull-up jumper and a three, and then Poplar and Joncas each made shots from beyond the arc around a Carlow layup. After the Panthers converted two steals into fast-break layups, the Celtics put together a run to cut into the lead. They scored 9 of 13 points in a 3-minute stretch where the Panthers only mustered a Joncas trey and a Nasier Starks free throw. The Panthers settled things down defensively, and Farley made back-to-back threes to give Pitt-Bradford a 31-point advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
For the final ten minutes of the game, the Panthers began to deepen their rotation, but they maintained their lead with threes by Joncas and Rodriguez and a thunderous dunk by Poplar. Seniors Poplar and Farley added late baskets to extend the lead to its peak at 33 points before the visitors scored the final 8 points of the game to set the final margin at 25.
Jeremy Rodriguez finished as the Panthers leading scorer, scoring 17 points in just 18 minutes of playing time. Logan Joncas had a memorable senior day, setting a career high with 15 points on 5-8 shooting in the win. Niare Poplar and Coby Farley each added 14, while Xander Norris also reached double figures with 10 points. Norris also tallied team highs in rebounds (6), assists (5), and steals (4).
The win moves the Panthers to 13-9 on the season with an 8-5 record in conference play. It also clinches them a spot in the AMCC Championship Tournament. The Panthers will play their last three games of the regular season on the road, beginning with a matchup at 1st-place Penn State-Behrend on Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Erie.
