PITTSBURG, KS -- The SBU Bearcats used a well-executed defensive strategy, and balanced scoring, to defeat Pitt State 58-51.
SBU held Pitt’s leading scorer, Cory Abercrombie to 4 points. He was 2-11 from the field, and double covered more often than not when he touched the ball.
The Bearcats opened the game with a cold three-point stroke, missing their first seven attempts. But with 3:30 left in the first half, Scott Neuhalfen broke the drought with a trey from the right side to give SBU their biggest lead (4) to that point. SBU went to the locker room with a 24-21 lead.
The 2nd half opened with a Pitt State run. The Gorillas scored 7 unanswered points in a key stretch, and opened up a 4 point lead on SBU. But Colt Blair, and the Bearcats, put an end to the Gorilla momentum by opening the long range arsenal.
The threes were starting to drop again.
When the dust had settled, Blair had connected on three long ones. Neuhalfen added another in the 2nd half for a total of two. And Jason Jemison added one.
For the game, thanks to the sizzling 2nd half, SBU shot 42.9% from the arc, actually a higher percentage than they shot from the field (42.6%).
Jared Young led SBU’s scoring with 13. Colt Blair added 11. Jim Grabowski added 9 points and 7 rebounds. Jason Jemison scored 9 points. Matt Rogers had a solid game of 8 points and 9 rebounds. Scott Neuhalfen scored 8.
SBU’s next game is Wednesday night, against UCM in Warrensburg. Tipoff is scheduled at 7:30.
Final Stats
