BUFFALO, N.Y. – Pitt-Bradford Junior Ryan Race of Bradford, Pa.,
set school records for points (55) and field goals made (22) in a
131-119 win over Marietta College in the Buffalo State Tournament
consolation game Saturday.
The previous records were held by Randy Wade with 46 points and
19 field goals on Nov. 27, 1982.
The Panthers, who trailed in the first half by 23 points and
didn’t attempt a three-pointer all afternoon, also set team marks
for free throws made (39) and assists (42). The 131 points was four
points shy of the record set in 1985.
Sophomore Mark Austin (Bradford) had 25 points, junior Dan
Thomas (Perth, Australia) had 15 points and 10 assists, freshman
Shawn Spindler (Bradford) had 11 points and 10 assists, sophomore
Jon Hannon had 10 points and seven assists and sophomore Rob Copley
(Sheffield) had 14 rebounds for Pitt-Bradford (1-1).
“It was a wild game,” said Andy Moore Pitt-Bradford coach.
“Marietta plays an up-and-down pressing style so Race got a lot of
easy baskets on their press.”
The Panthers trailed by 23 points in the first half but used a
57-45 edge in rebounds and 42 team assists to anchor the come-from
behind victory.
“Shawn Spindler and Dan Thomas both had 10 assists for us,”
Moore pointed out. “Jon Hannon and Rob Copley added seven each.
Those guys did a great job of breaking the pressure. All Ryan had
to do was finish the play.
“It was a wacky game,” he added. “Ryan was the beneficiary of a
lot of great plays by those guys… It was a great night for Ryan. He
only missed six shots, and it was a really great game for him.
“I knew because of the style they play that we were never really
out of game,” Moore stressed. “Once you break their pressure. It
was really a matter of us doing a better job defensively.”
Stewart led Marietta with 27 points, including eight
three-pointers.
The Panthers return to action Tuesday hosting Westminster.
Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.
“Westminster plays with the same style as Marietta, so it will
be interesting,” Moore concluded. “They use the press and run to
get going.”
