PITTSBURGH, PA – The Redhawks reached the century mark for the second time this season after running to a 103-65 victory over Pitt-Bradford. It is their seventh straight win and they improve to 12-5 and 9-1 in the AMCC.
Zach Gould scored La Roche's first eight points but the Redhawks struggled on the defensive end. They conceded buckets on five of Pitt-Bradford's opening six possessions and Coach Carmichael called a timeout at the 15:25 mark. The Panthers were shooting 71% and led 12-10 prior to the stoppage.
La Roche exited the timeout with eight straight points. Arnes Bajgora converted a three point play while Trell Thomas and Austin Hannes followed with free throws and a three-pointer.
Pitt-Braford cut it to 22-18 at the 11:56 mark. Two straight Ryan Norkus putbacks made it 26-18 and a Norkus three-point play at 8:39 made it 29-22.
La Roche stretched the lead to eleven with 5:36 left in the first half. RayQuan Phifer hit an open three and Gould stole the inbounds pass and drained a transition three. Gould drew a charge on the ensuing possession and found Bajgora for a 39-26 lead.
Pitt-Bradford got within seven with a minute left in the half and La Roche carried a 43-34 lead into the lockerroom.
Norkus finished the first half with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Zach Gould had 11 points and went 3 for 3 from three-point range. The Redhawks hit 5 of 10 three-pointers.
La Roche ran out to a 54-37 lead early in the second half. The Redhawks were excellent on the defensive end and held Pitt-Bradford without a field goal. Phifer hit a three-pointer and Dion Etheridge scored four points over the course of the run.
Pitt Bradford tried to change the momentum with a timeout but La Roche continued to pull away. Phifer caught fire and hit three straight three-pointers and a 65-40 advantage.
La Roche's sharpshooting continued. Darrell Barron and Trell Thomas provided threes to extend their lead to 71-46. Norkus broke the Redhawks's streak of three-pointers with a put back but Austin Hannes and Evan Brown followed with threes for a thirty-point lead.
Kennedy Smith converted a three-point play for an 87-53 lead with 5:27 left to play. Hannes followed with a three-pointer and the Redhawks cruised to the 103-65 victory.
La Roche outscored Pitt-Bradford 60-31 in the second half. They outrebounded them 27-10 and hit 9 of 15 three-pointers.
Phifer finished with 19 points and went 5 for 5 from three-point range. Norkus registered a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Gould and Hannes each had 13 points and Etheridge 9 rebounds.
The Redhawks shot 51% and hit 14 of 25 three-pointers. They held a commanding 52-28 advantage on the boards.
La Roche will host Franciscan on Wednesday at 6pm.