PITTSBURGH, Pa. - La Roche men's basketball was able to avenge an early season AMCC defeat on Saturday afternoon, as the Redhawks took down Pitt-Bradford, 95-92, in the second matchup of the season.
The Panthers were the early aggressor, storming out to a 14-6 lead in the opening five minutes of play, and would still lead by seven-points, 19-12, with the clock reading 13:08 remaining.
It was then the La Roche offense kicked into gear, utilizing an 13-2 run to take its first lead since the opening bucket, opening a 25-21 edge with 8:37 to go in the opening half.
Bradford would fight back to tie the game and the teams traded scores until with 4:16 remaining, the Redhawks again opened a four-point, 37-33 lead. The Panthers once again crawled back and even used a 4-0 run to close the opening 20-minutes, to take a 43-41 lead into the half.
Out of the break, the first eight minutes was a battle, as neither team wavered or held a lead greater than three points. At 11:55, with the score reading 58-57, La Roche began what would be an important, 8-0 run, building the lead to the highest of the game thus far, 66-57.
The Redhawks would continue to hold the lead, but Bradford would crawl back within one possession, 77-74, with 6:01 remaining in regulation, then within two-points, 81-79, with the clock reading 4:43 to go.
At 3:59 remaining, La Roche began what would be the biggest run of the game. It was the start of a 10-0 run across 1:42, that propelled the Redhawks ahead, 91-79 with just 2:17 remaining in the game.
Yet again, the Panthers managed to find themselves right back in it, down a possession, 95-92, with five seconds remaining, and Bradford would get one last chance at the tie, but would be stiffled by the La Roche defense, as the red and white came away victorious.
For the game, the Redhawks finished 33-for-61 from the floor (54.1%), 5-for-18 from deep (27.8%) and a solid, 24-for-29 from the foul line (82.8%).
On the other end, Bradford ended the night shooting 33-for-79 from the field (41.8%), 10-for-33 from three (30.3%) and 16-for-21 from the charity stripe (76.2%).
Four players finished the night in double figures for La Roche, led by Major Rainey, earning his fourth double-double in the last five games, scoring 28 points on 10-for-14 shooting, while adding 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Cooper Rankin followed, hitting 7-of-11 shots for 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Bryce Epps netted 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go alongside four rebounds and a pair of steals.
Brandon Bell was the fourth player to go for 10-plus, as he netted 12 points.
The Redhawks have only two home games left in the final five games of the season and the next on is this coming Wednesday, Feb. 4, when they play host to Mt. Aloysius at 7 p.m.