PITT-BRADFORD CLAIMS TOP SEED, HOSTING RIGHTS IN MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

With a 14-2 record in conference play, the Pitt-Bradford men's basketball team has secured its first AMCC regular season title in 23 years. First round games tip off Tuesday evening, followed by the semifinals and championship game on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Tuesday's first round games will feature #6 Hilbert College at #3 Penn State Altoona, while #4 Penn State Behrend hosts #5 La Roche University. Both the Panthers and #2 Pitt-Greensburg will receive first round byes.

No. 1 Pitt-Bradford enters the AMCC tournament looking for their first conference tournament title since the 2002-03 season. The Panthers offense runs deep, boasting five players averaging in double figures. Senior guard/forward Jamarion Butler leads the conference with 21.3 points per game and ranks fifth with 7.4 rebounds per game, while also adding 35 steals in conference play. Junior guard Jeremy Rodriguez is second on the Panthers with 18.5 points per game while freshman guard Braylen Salters adds 15.6 points and 2.3 steals per game. Rounding out the double figures for the Panthers are Jesse Laster and Xander Norris, averaging 11.7 points per game each, with Laster also contributning 6.9 rebounds per game.

Pitt-Greensburg, with a 12-4 conference record, has earned the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament. The Bobcats also have five players averaging double figures, led by sophomore forward Trent Rozich with 16.3 points per game in conference play. Rozich also ranks third in the AMCC with in 8.3 rebounds per game and his 74 assists against AMCC teams (4.6 apg) are tied for second-best in the conference. Junior guard Matthew Marinchak is right behind Rozich with 15.4 points per game, including 42 made three-pointers in conference play. Junior forward Josiah Wyatt-Taylor adds 13.9 points per game for the Bobcats, while Jackson Byer and Michael Bigley round out the double-digit scorers with 10.7 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. 

Also with a 12-4 record, Penn State Altoona enters as the No. 3 seed. The Altoona Lions are led by two-time defending AMCC Defensive Player of the Year, Dwayne Jones. Jones leads his team with 16.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while also adding 2.4 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game. Freshman guard Kal-El Gentles adds 14.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, with his 73 assists in conference play are third-best in the league. Junior guard Kaden Claar averages 12.8 points and 2.4 steals per game for the Lions and sophomore forward Nehemiah Frye chips in with 11.9 points per game. 

Penn State Behrend will be the No. 4 seed with a 9-7 record against AMCC teams. The Lions are led offensively by senior guard Tommy DiRienzo who leads the league with 21.5 points per game in conference play, ranking second in three-point field goal percentage (43.4%) and free throws made (73), while also adding 5.3 reboudns per game. Junior Matthew McDonough contributes 15.3 points per game, while also chipping in with 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. 

La Roche carries an 8-8 conference record and comes into the tournament as the No. 5 seed. Sophomore guard Bryce Epps leads the Redhawks with 15.1 points per game, while also adding 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Senior guard Joe Starzynski averages 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Rounding out the field is No. 6 Hilbert with a 7-9 conference mark. The Hawks are led by senior guard Shaheem Ellis with 18.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Larry Morse nearly averages a double-double with 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds, while Quran Briggs round out the double figures with 16.5 points per game for the Hawks.