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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team opened the season with a 63-60 loss at Pittsburgh on Friday night at the Peterson Events Center. The Terriers had a ten point lead with ten minutes remaining in the game, but the Panthers took the lead after an 8-0 run with 1:33 left.
Wofford is 0-1 overall, while Pittsburgh opens at 1-0 a season after advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman with 20 points and seven rebounds while Brad Loesing added 13 points. The Panthers were led by Brad Wannamaker with 15 points, Dante Taylor with 13 points and Gary McGhee with eight rebounds.
“The game went along pretty true to form,” said head coach Mike Young. “We could not handle some things at about the nine minute mark and we gave up a couple easy baskets. We missed a couple of lay-ups as well. What an unbelievable atmosphere and it is tough to come in here and win. We had our crack and I am disappointed that we did not finish the deal, but this team will be just fine.”
The Panthers scored first, but back-to-back threes from Brad Loesing and Cameron Rundles gave Wofford a 6-2 lead four minutes into the game. After a tie at 8-8, Pittsburgh took a 11-10 lead after a three by Chase Adams at 10:32. Wofford regained the lead after a basket from Noah Dahlman at 9:28 for a 12-11 lead.
Wofford was able to keep the lead the rest of the first half and pushed the advantage to ten points on four occasions. A three-pointer by Travon Woodall as time expired in the first half cut the Terrier lead to 31-24.
To open the second half, Junior Salters hit a three for a 34-24 lead. A three from Brad Loesing pushed the lead to 39-26 at 16:24. Another basket by Loesing at 15:49 kept it a 13-point lead, but the momentum shifted to the Panthers as they chipped away at the lead. A three-pointer from Nasir Robinson cut the Terrier lead to 41-38 with 12:21 left on the clock.
A quick 7-0 run by Wofford that included another three from Brad Loesing pushed the lead back to ten at 48-38 with 10:34 remaining. The Terriers had a nine-point advantage at 54-45 with six minutes left, but five straight points by the Panthers reduced the lead to four.
After a bucket by Noah Dahlman with 3:49 left, Wofford had a 58-53 lead. The Panthers would score the next eight points to regain the lead at 61-58 with 1:33 remaining on the clock. Noah Dahlman cut the lead to one with 28 seconds left, but Ashton Gibbs hit two free throws with 17 left to make it a three-point game. Junior Salters missed a three with 15 seconds left to end the game.
Wofford shot 42.3% from the floor and 36.8% from three. The Terriers were 100% from the line. The Panthers shot 47.1% from the floor and 26.7% from behind the arc. Pittsburgh was 57.9% from the free throw line. Rebounds were tied at 30 each. Wofford had ten turnovers, while Pittsburgh had nine.
The season will continue on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm at the University of Georgia before returning home on Thursday, November 19 to host Lees-McRae.
