Third highest program score not enough to lift Men’s Basketball past Panthers

BRADFORD, Pa. --- Carlow University men's basketball recorded its third highest-scoring game in program history with a 124-101 loss at Pitt Bradford Wednesday night.

Carlow's highest scoring game in program history was a 115-109 victory over Penn State Fayette Feb. 2, 2016.

The Celtics (2-9,1-2 AMCC) shot 50 percent from the floor and seven players recorded double-digit points in the shootout against the Panthers (11-1,4-0 AMCC).

Nehemiah Brazil (Pittsburgh, Pa./Nazareth Prep HS) went 9 for 9 from the foul line and led Carlow with 17 points and four assists. Adnan Sbai (Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro Area HS/Seton Hill University) added 16 points, and Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) contributed 14 in the effort.

Jordan Cannon (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/West Virginia Wesleyan) scored 13 points off the bench and dished out three assists, while Riley Comforti (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland HS) and Jimmy Giannetta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Saint Joseph HS) added 12 points apiece. Comforti also picked up three steals, and Devin Lewis (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier HS/Pitt Bradford) scored 11 points on the night.

Pitt Bradford jumped out to a 10-point lead five minutes into the game. A layup from Lewis and a three-pointer by Cannon cut the Panthers' advantage to five at the midway point, and a three-pointer from Gaskins later in the half tied the score at 29-all.

Carlow gained its first lead of the game at 6:29 when Brazil found Clayton Cook (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area HS) for a layup. The teams traded marginal leads before Pitt Bradford went on a 15-4 run over the course of 2:47, ahead 51-39 with two minutes remaining in the half. The Celtics outscored the Panthers 12-9 to trail by nine points at intermission.

Carlow kept it close through the beginning of the second half before the Panthers strung together a 10-3 run to lead, 90-73. Although Carlow shot slightly better than Pitt Bradford from the floor in the second half, the Celtics were unable to mount a comeback.

The Panthers made 11 treys and scored 29 points at the free throw line on the night. Pitt Bradford held a narrow 44-41 rebounding margin but scored 34 points off 26 Carlow turnovers. The Panthers outscored Carlow 71-36 off the bench.

Jeremy Rodriguez led the Panthers with a game-high 23 points off the bench. Keshon Kittrell added a double-double 10 points and 10 boards, and four other players scored in double figures.

The Celtics host Mount Aloysius College for a 2 p.m. AMCC game at Donahue Pavilion Saturday.