Jaylen Mann drives to the hoop versus Rio Grande in Friday nigth's game at CCAC-South Gym. (Sam Robinson).
Box Score
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. -- Point Park University men's basketball had an impressive second half on its way to an 82-57 victory over University of Rio Grande on Friday night at CCAC-South, the River States Conference opener for both teams.
Point Park (3-4, 1-0 RSC) outscored the RedStorm, 49-22, the final 20 minutes. During that time, Point Park shot 59 percent (19 for 32) from the field and 55 percent (6 for 11) from 3-point range to win going away.
Rio Grande (2-7, 0-1 RSC) made only 8 of 29 field goals the second half, which included 1 for 11 from long range. That did not keep up with the Pioneers, who started to feel it from the outside after a cold spell allowed the RedStorm to steal away the halftime lead, 35-33.
Point Park was ahead, 24-14, midway through the first half, but it made just 3 of 16 treys in the first 20 minutes to hit a slump. Rio Grande took advantage with a 16-5 spurt to end the half with the lead.
All that changed after halftime as Point Park came out firing and making five of its first seven 3-point attempts. Jaylen Mann led the charge making 8 for 10 from the field and scoring 15 of his 19 points the final 20 minutes.
The Pioneers were ahead, 55-43, after Mann went coast to coast for a lay-in, hit from the outside and then converted a 3-point play with a basket and a foul.
Point Park continued to push the lead from there with Gavin Rajahpillay hitting a 3-pointer for a 70-50. He finished with 19 points and four assists to tie Mann for game-high honors.
Sa'iid Allen connected from downtown to keep the Pioneers up by 20, 74-54, and he scored 13 points on the night.
Point Park returns to action on Saturday at home versus WVU Tech. Tipoff is 2 p.m. at CCAC-South Gym. Watch Live on the Point Park Sports Network on Stretch Internet with HD streaming video of the Pioneers: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/PPU.
