Fredonia, N.Y. — The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford won their 5th consecutive game to start the 2024-25 campaign on Friday night, holding on to a late lead to defeat Fredonia State 103-101.
The Panthers started strong, jumping out to an 11-2 lead after four minutes of play. Jesse Laster started the game with a three in transition and Jamarion Butler made a short jumper on the next possession. Braylen Salters, Samuel Brown, and Coby Farley all made layups in the run to add to the lead. Pitt-Bradford went on a four-minute scoreless stretch, which allowed the hosts to cut the lead down to one possession. Xander Norris made a layup to end the streak, and Farley answered a three with another of his own, but it only slowed the Blue Devil rally, which eventually cut the lead to one.
Pitt-Bradford withstood the rally, answering each Fredonia basket with one of their own to stay in the lead. The Panthers were finally able to extend their lead when Butler followed a Laster three with a quick steal and fast-break layup. Leading 33-27, Laster completed a three-point play which was followed by a quick turnover and layup for Rodd Yarbrough, pushing the Panther lead into double digits. Yarbrough and Norris each made quick jumpers and then after a Fredonia time-out and jumper, Chris Martin made a three from the corner to put the Panthers up 15.
After a 6-1 Fredonia run cut the Panther lead to 10, Jamarion Butler took advantage of three straight Blue Devil turnovers to score five straight and restore the lead. Coby Farley made a layup to give the Panthers their largest lead of the half, but the hosts made a three and a layup in the last 30 seconds of the half to send the game to the break with Pitt-Bradford leading 53-41.
Momentum remained with Fredonia after the break as they scored the first 10 points of the half, quickly cutting he lead to two and forcing a Pitt-Bradford timeout. Laster made a mid-range jumper following the timeout to end the rally, and start a run for Pitt-Bradford which restored their double-digit lead after two quick layups from Norris and Xavion Boone.
The hosts made multiple runs through the middle 10 minutes of the second, but the Panthers were able to rebuff them and continued to push the lead back to 10. The lead was trimmed to four with 10 minutes to go, but Farley and Norris made consecutive threes to answer. With three minutes remaining, Salters answered a Blue Devil three with a long ball of his own, putting the Panthers up 99-90. The hosts were able to strike back and eventually cut the lead to one-point at 101-100 with just over a minute remaining.
After the Panthers could not extend the lead, Fredonia took the ball with a chance to take their first lead of the game in its final minute. The Panthers locked down defensively and forced the Blue Devils into two time-outs during the possession. With seconds counting down on the shot clock, the Panthers forced a loose ball and Laster came away with a steal. He found Butler on the break for a dunk to give the Panthers a three-point lead with ten seconds remaining. The Panthers allowed Fredonia to run six seconds off the clock before fouling and sending the hosts to the line. The Fredonia shooter made the first and then intentionally missed the second. The Blue Devils were able to gather the loose rebound and take a last-second shot to tie the game, but the Panthers’ defensive pressure resulted in the effort coming up short to secure the win.
Jesse Laster led the Panthers with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He made 7-of-11 from the field, 2-of-5 from three, and all five free throws he attempted. Five other players also reached double figures for Pitt-Bradford. Coby Farley made 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 16 points. Jamarion Butler and Xander Norris both scored 25 points, while Rodd Yarbrough added 14. Braylen Salters also reached double-digits, finishing with 10 points.
The victory moves the Panthers to 5-0, adding to their best start since joining the NCAA. The Panthers will have a unique opportunity in their next game, as they will take on Division I Buffalo in an exhibition match. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tipoff slated for 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Arena in Buffalo.
