Point Park beats Shawnee State with defensive stand to improve to 9-0

PITTSBURGH -- What was a 20-point lead at the half turned into a tight game late, but Point Park University men's basketball got some key baskets and a final defensive stand to defeat visiting Shawnee State (Ohio) University, 83-80, on Saturday from CCAC-Allegheny.

The win moved the Pioneers to 9-0 on the season and 2-0 in the River States Conference. It was the first conference matchup between the schools since 2010 as Shawnee State (4-4, 1-1 RSC) is a new member of the RSC. The schools were former conference foes when they were both in the American Mideast Conference. 

Jo Valrie dazzled with 32 points -- one off his career high -- Jamisen Smith put in 16 points, and Jalen Stamps scored 14 and dished out eight assists to power the Pioneers to victory. It is the team's longest winning streak since 2006-07 when Point Park started the season 21-0. 

Despite Point Park being up 53-33 at the half -- Valrie already had 22 points by then -- Shawnee State had a big second half to get back into the game.

The Pioneers were clinging to an 83-80 lead when Shawnee State grabbed a defensive rebound with 12 seconds to go. The Bears went for the tie, but Tre Beard's corner 3-pointer was blocked by Smith. The rebound went to SSU's Tyreke Johnson on the left wing, but his attempt at the tie was no good as Smith got the final rebound to seal the win. 

Beard had 22 points with a couple of big drives and a 3-pointer to bring the Bears within a possession late in the game. Keith Germain had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Johnson put up 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. 

Point Park's blistering first half included a 9-for-15 performance from 3-point range. Valrie was on fire making 9 of 10 field goals the first 20 minutes, which included a perfect 4 for 4 from long range. Stamps and Smith were both 2 for 4 in the first half as the Pioneers raced out to the big lead with 51-percent shooting the first half. 

Point Park was ahead, 11-4, in the early going. The Pioneers' first nine points all came on treys, and then Stamps found Jags Jhawar inside to cap off that early run. 

Shawnee State responded to tie the score at 14-14, but the Pioneers had another big run of 16-4. That put the score at 30-18 at the under-10 media timeout of the first half. 

Before the half was through, Valrie raced in for a dunk and hit another 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 20. On the day, he was 13 for 17 from the field and 5 for 5 from the arc. 

Point Park was also dominating the rebounding the first half at 28-15 while shooting 51 percent and holding SSU to 40 percent. Those numbers reversed the second half. Shawnee State rebounded its way to a 40-40 draw in the final stats, shot 54 percent the second half and held Point Park to 41 percent the rest of the way. 

Shawnee State was within 63-55 with 10:42 to go. The Pioneers had made just 3 of 15 shots to start the second half as the Bears closed the gap. The Bears got even closer down 70-66 with 6:55 to go on a trey by Johnson. 

Smith had a couple of big baskets for Point Park to regain a bit of control up 79-71 with 4:00 to go. Later, Valrie scored as he was fouled for an 83-76 lead at the 1:35 mark. Those were the last points, however, with Point Park putting it in the hands of the defense. 

Nathaniel Van added eight points and a couple of 3-pointers in the victory. Nazareth Fisher was the rebounding leader with 12 caroms off the bench.

Point Park will now be off until next Saturday, Dec. 9 at home versus Alice Lloyd (Ky.). Tipoff is 3:00 p.m. at CCAC-Allegheny for another RSC matchup.