In a championship game that lived up to every expectation, the Pitt‑Greensburg men's basketball team went toe‑to‑toe with Penn State Behrend for forty intense minutes on Saturday evening, but the Bobcats' late comeback fell just short in a 66–61 defeat in the AMCC title game. With the loss, UPG now awaits its postseason fate as decisions for both the NCAA Division III Tournament and ECAC Championship are expected in the coming days.
Despite the final score, the night showcased everything that defined the Bobcats' remarkable season—resilience, shot‑making, defensive grit, and leadership. Those efforts were recognized after the game, as Jackson Byer and Matthew Marinchak were each named to the AMCC All‑Tournament Team for their outstanding tournament performances.
A Strong Start and a Confident First Half
The night began with Behrend jumping out to a quick 5–0 lead, but the Bobcats never flinched. Byer scored the team's first bucket of the night with a put‑back at 16:59, then followed with a three from the left wing minutes later to steady the pace. A steal by Ty Keffer led to a transition finish by Trent Rozich to tie the game at 7–7, and UPG took its first lead on a pair of free throws from Michael Bigley after another forced turnover.
From there, Pitt‑Greensburg began to find its rhythm from the perimeter. Tyler Freas stepped into a three off a swing pass from Jahmir Collins to push the lead to 12–8, then scored again on a hard drive to give UPG a six‑point advantage. Bigley added a triple at the 7:49 mark, and Byer drilled another deep shot at 6:50 as the Bobcats continued to control the tempo.
Byer, who was sensational throughout the half, hit his third three of the night with under three minutes left, and Marinchak followed with a well‑timed triple of his own off an offensive rebound to make it 30–24. His two free throws with four seconds remaining sent the Bobcats to the locker room leading 32–27, capping a half in which UPG knocked down seven threes and dictated much of the action.
Trading Punches in a Championship Fight
As championship games often do, the second half delivered a momentum‑shifting battle. Behrend struck first with a quick 5–0 burst to close the gap, but Keffer answered with a three from the right wing to restore the lead at 35–32. From that point forward, the two teams traded blows in a back‑and‑forth stretch that saw multiple ties and lead changes.
Behrend's physicality inside allowed the Lions to briefly take control, stretching the margin to 43–37, but the Bobcats hung tough. Rozich broke the run with a layup, and Byer—continuing his remarkable shooting night—responded with his fifth three of the game at the 10:16 mark to bring the Bobcats within 47–43.
Moments later, Marinchak connected on a deep three at 9:17, trimming the deficit to just three and firing up the UPG bench. A determined finish by Joziah Wyatt‑Taylor with 8:30 left again kept Pitt‑Greensburg within one possession, but each time the Bobcats got close, Behrend found a timely answer.
Still, the Bobcats had one more push in them. With 3:38 left, Byer rose up on the right wing and buried his sixth three of the game to make it 60–58, bringing UPG within a single possession as the tension peaked. After another defensive stand, Marinchak drilled the biggest shot of the night—a deep three with 1:43 remaining—closing the gap to 62–61 and bringing the Bobcats within striking distance.
Final Seconds Slip Away
With the game in the balance, Behrend managed a crucial layup with 33 seconds left to go up 64–61. Pitt‑Greensburg called timeout and set up a look, but a turnover on the ensuing possession forced the Bobcats to foul. The Lions sealed the result with a transition basket with seven seconds left, ending UPG's comeback bid despite a valiant fight to the final horn.
A Championship Effort and Postseason Ahead
Byer finished with a game‑high 19 points on an electric 5‑of‑8 performance from three while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots. Marinchak added 13 points, including several critical baskets in the second half, helping secure his spot alongside Byer on the AMCC All‑Tournament Team. Keffer added nine points and five rebounds, while Bigley and Rozich contributed important minutes on both ends.
Though the result was not the ending Pitt‑Greensburg hoped for, the Bobcats leave Erie with their 22nd win of the season and a postseason résumé strong enough to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Should the national committee go a different direction, UPG remains a top candidate for an ECAC postseason berth, ensuring opportunities still remain to extend one of the program's best seasons in more than a decade.
The Bobcats will now wait for their postseason assignment, but one thing is certain—their run isn't over yet.
