Behind a game-high 25 points from Ty Keffer and a strong second-half performance, the Pitt-Greensburg men's basketball team earned a 79-67 victory over Grove City College on Monday evening inside Chambers Hall.
The Bobcats improved to 1-1 on the season, overcoming a three-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Wolverines 43-28 over the final 20 minutes.
Keffer led the way offensively, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and connecting on five three-pointers while adding six rebounds. Jahmir Collins joined him in double figures with 12 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Tony Martin and Noah Blue each chipped in nine points, while Tyler Freas contributed a game-high five steals.
Pitt-Greensburg came out firing, jumping to a 14-3 advantage just four minutes into the contest. Keffer knocked down an early three-pointer, while Collins helped fuel the fast start with a pair of baskets off Grove City turnovers.
The Wolverines responded with a run of their own, eventually tying the game at 15 before taking their first lead midway through the opening half. The two teams continued to trade baskets, with neither side able to establish control.
Grove City built its largest lead of the half at 37-30 with 1:45 remaining, but the Bobcats closed the period on a 6-2 run. Keffer connected from beyond the arc before Freas converted a steal into a three-point play, trimming the deficit to 39-36 heading into the locker room.
The Wolverines opened the second half with a 7-0 run to stretch their advantage to 46-36, but Pitt-Greensburg quickly found its rhythm.
The Bobcats responded with an 11-0 surge, highlighted by five points from Keffer, to reclaim the lead at 47-46 with 14:30 remaining. From there, the teams went back and forth in a tightly contested stretch that featured several lead changes.
Blue provided a spark off the bench, knocking down a pair of three-pointers during the middle stages of the second half. Keffer followed with another triple to put Pitt-Greensburg ahead 60-59 with just over 10 minutes to play.
The Bobcats began to create separation as the clock wound down. A three-pointer from Craig Jarvis pushed the advantage to 65-61 with 8:32 remaining, and Collins added a basket to extend the lead to six.
Grove City cut the deficit to four with 3:21 left, but Pitt-Greensburg answered by outscoring the Wolverines 10-0 over the next three minutes to put the game out of reach. The Bobcats sealed the victory at the free-throw line, scoring the final four points to secure the 12-point win.
Defensively, Pitt-Greensburg made its presence felt throughout the night, forcing 25 Grove City turnovers and collecting 18 steals. The Bobcats turned those miscues into 32 points while holding a 16-1 advantage in fast-break scoring.
Pitt-Greensburg also received valuable contributions from its bench, which accounted for 28 points. Blue and Jarvis combined for 16 points and three three-pointers, while Tylan McCune-Daniels added six points and two blocked shots.
The Bobcats will look to carry the momentum from their first win of the season into the weekend as they travel to Salem, Va., for the Frankie Allen Classic. Pitt-Greensburg will open tournament play on Friday against host Roanoke College.
