With a three-point lead early in the contest, back-to-back triples by BC freshman forward Joe Testa and senior guard Chris Stephens fueled a 19-4 barrage that gave the Bison a 28-10 lead with 12 minutes left before halftime.
However, the hosts stormed back into the game, as Ed Montgomery scored nine points during a 17-4 Bobcat spurt late in the half that sliced Bethany’s lead to 43-29 heading into halftime. Montgomery had an even dozen by the break, while Wallace posted 11 for the Bison, who knocked down eight threes in the opening half.
Early in the second stanza, Pitt-Greensburg moved within a point twice on Rashad Davison buckets, including a jumper to make it 46-45 BC with 17:26 left. But Bethany turned to the inside duo of Wallace and freshman Ryan Besancon to pull away.
Over the next six-plus minutes, Bethany outscored the Bobcats 21-5 to take a 67-50 lead. Besancon totaled nine during the run, including a three-point play to cap it, and Wallace fired in seven to give the Bison control of the contest, as UPG never moved closer than 12 the rest of the way and BC came away with their first win at Pitt-Greensburg since a 109-81 victory in 2001.
Wallace’s career-night came on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor and 10-of-13 accuracy from the foul line. The 6-4 forward added eight rebounds and three assists in the victory. Also marking a new high in their short career so far was Besancon, who dumped in 19 markers before fouling out. Stephens was the other BC player to reach double figures with 10, while also totaling eight rebounds and three steals for the Green and White, who shot 50 percent (31-62) for the game and held a 45-35 advantage on the boards.
Pitt-Greensburg also had three players reach double digits, led by Montgomery’s 14 and Matt Rowland’s 13.
The Bison are now off for Thanksgiving but will face a tall order when they return to the court in seven days. Bethany’s next contest, which will be the first of three games in three days, will come against Division II West Liberty State College, who averaged 98 points per game last season and have already set a school-record for single-game points with 141 in their season opener against Ohio University-Eastern. Tip-off for Tuesday’s second game of the Wendy’s Classic at West Liberty is set for 8 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score Bethany College vs Pitt Greensburg Bobcats 11/21/06 8:00 pm at Chambers Hall Gym, Greensburg, PA At Chambers Hall Gym, Greensburg, PA BETHANY COLLEGE 90, PITT GREENSBURG BOBCATS 70 BETHANY COLLEGE (2-1) James Wallace 8-12 10-13 26; Ryan Besancon 8-12 3-5 19; Chris Stephens 3-5 2-2 10; Brody Jackson 3-5 0-0 9; Jay Lyonett 3-7 0-0 8; Nate Stoner 3-4 0-0 7; Marc Palermo 1-4 3-4 5; Carey Palermo 1-1 0-0 3; Joe Testa 1-4 0-0 3; Bill Grant 0-2 0-0 0; Matt Kubachka 0-0 0-0 0; Jason McKeegan 0-6 0-0 0; Austin Walters 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-62 18-24 90. PITT GREENSBURG BOBCATS (0-3) Montgomery Ed 4-11 4-4 14; Rowland Matt 4-10 3-4 13; Davison Rashad 5-13 1-2 11; Polley Jacob 4-11 0-1 9; Hill Travis 2-4 2-2 6; Streett Chris 2-5 0-0 6; Gustin Tim 2-5 0-0 4; Cortazzo Matt 1-3 1-2 3; Russell Matt 0-1 2-2 2; Rossi Mike 1-3 0-1 2; Liu Zach 0-0 0-0 0; Persing Steve 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-66 13-18 70. Bethany College............... 43 47 - 90 Pitt Greensburg Bobcats....... 39 31 - 70 3-point goals-Bethany College 10-27 (Brody Jackson 3-4; Jay Lyonett 2-6; Chris Stephens 2-4; Joe Testa 1-1; Carey Palermo 1-1; Nate Stoner 1-1; Jason McKeegan 0-5; Marc Palermo 0-3; Ryan Besancon 0-1; James Wallace 0-1), Pitt Greensburg Bobcats 7-24 (Rowland Matt 2-5; Streett Chris 2-4; Montgomery Ed 2-7; Polley Jacob 1-4; Rossi Mike 0-1; Gustin Tim 0-1; Davison Rashad 0-2). Fouled out--Bethany College-Ryan Besancon, Pitt Greensburg Bobcats-None. Rebounds-Bethany College 45 (James Wallace 8; Chris Stephens 8), Pitt Greensburg Bobcats 35 (Rowland Matt 6). Assists-Bethany College 7 (James Wallace 3), Pitt Greensburg Bobcats 13 (Montgomery Ed 3; Streett Chris 3). Total fouls-Bethany College 22, Pitt Greensburg Bobcats 21. A-200