Pitt-Bradford 65, Grove City 62

BOXSCORE

January 18, 1999--Matt Barnes’s 24 points and clutch three-pointer in the final minute of the game spurred the Pitt-Bradford Panthers to a 65-62 win over Grove City, who suffered its first loss at home this season.

The Wolverines, who were led in scoring by Michael Cratsley’s (Temecula, CA/Temecula) 14 points, rallied from a 34-21 halftime deficit to seize a 52-45 lead with 5:20 remaining in the game. Grove City shot only 29% from the field in the first half, including 0 for 8 from three-point territory.

"Pitt-Bradford dictated the policy of the game in the first half," Wolverine mentor Steve Lamie said. "They were a lot more physical than we were. They played with confidence and we played scared. You gotta make plays--in the first half, we didn’t. In a nutshell, we didn’t come to play in the first half."

Although Grove City struggled from the field, the Wolverines’ free-throw shooting kept them in the contest. The hosts drilled 11 straight foul shots in the second half, and made 18 of 21 (86%) for the game.

"If you shoot 86%, you’re gonna stay in games," Lamie said. "That’s what kept us in the game. It’s the only place we shot well."

Freshman forward Pat Roberts (Home, PA/Marion Center) added 10 points, along with 6-for-6 marksmanship from the free-throw line. Brent Steineman (Pickerington, OH/Wadsworth) and Dave Pifer (Sarver, PA/Freeport) evenly split 18 points. Point guard Damon Finazzo (Erie, PA/McDowell) handed out a season-high six assists. Grove City won the rebound battle, 42-39, but committed 14 turnovers. Chris Jacklich added 16 points for Pitt-Bradford, the defending Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference regular-season champions.

Grove City returns to conference action Saturday against Waynesburg. The game is slated to start at 4:00 pm. The game can be heard on WSAJ-FM 91.1 or via RealAudio over the internet.

Go back to Wolverine Basketball Home Page