STEUBENVILLE, OH - Five Bobcats score in double figures as the Bobcats pull away late to beat the Barons.

The Basics
Scores: Franciscan 79 - Pitt.-Greensburg  84
Records: Franciscan (5-11 , 4-7 AMCC) - Pitt.-Greensburg (14-3, 10-2 AMCC) 
Location: Kuzma Court, Steubenville, OH

How it Happened

• Drazen Frankovitch started the action off for the Barons as he made a hook shot and a pair of free throws to as the Barons would be ahead 4-3. The Bobcats would take the lead and stretch it all the way to a 10-4 advantage, before Travis Lien would score a jumper and a three point field goal to tighten it up at 10-9.  Each team could get a bucket when they needed one this half, as the Barons would finally capture the lead once more on another Lien three pointer with 14:14 left in the half. Neither team would have more then a four point lead the rest of the half as it would be a back and forth battle. The Barons appeared to grab the momentum as Matt Trent made a jumper and John Noce got a quick steal and fastbreak layup. The Bobcats would respond as they built back a three point lead. Sean Hickey would then heat up while he hit a pair of threes to give the Barons a four point lead with four minutes left. Matt Trent made a pair of buckets in the final minute to send it to half all tied up.
• The Bobcats would open up the half on a 13-4 run as they would grab an early nine point lead with 15:00 minutes to play. Donne Vandeborne would make his first career bucket to spark a Baron 9-2 run to cut it to a two point deficit with 11:05 to play. After a Bobcat's bucket, Joe Schriner would connect on his first three pointer and then another jumper to tie this one up; it appeared the Barons had all the momentum once again, but the Bobcats were never phased. A 7-0 run ensued with large credit to Matt Johnson who scored five of his team high 20 points in this run. The Barons would battle all the way back to trail by one point multiple times down the stretch, but the Bobcats always made a clutch bucket when they needed it. Cody Spaid made a tough layup in the paint to give them a three point edge, and Matt Trent put the Barons to within one, as he made a jumper. The Bobcats had the ball up one with 38 seconds left. The Barons played it out, electing to not foul, as their go to player Cam Seidgried got to the paint for a massive running layup with seven seconds left. Lien had a look to tie, but it was no good, as the Barons would fall 84-79.

Inside The Box Score

• Lien led the Barons with 23 points, and Matt Trent added 20 points in the loss.
• The Bobcats shot 61.1% from the field, the highest by any Division III team against the Barons this season.
• The Barons lost the battle of points in the paint 44-30 tonight.
• The Barons shot 55.4% from the field, their best shooting night of the season.

Up Next
The Barons will conclude their four games in seven days stretch as they host Pitt.-Bradford Saturday at 2 pm. It will be Kuzma Day at Franciscan as the Barons hope to capture a win in front of the community crowd.