PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University men's basketball started its season in the win column with Thursday night's 90-44 victory over visiting PSU-Shenango. The Pioneers (1-0) scored 45 points each half and held the Lions to 22-percent shooting on the night. 

Jo Valrie led the Pioneers with 20 points and 12 rebounds showing the familiar play that made him an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American last year. He made six of his final seven field-goal attempts on the night to lead Point Park's pulling away, and he made all five of his free throws. Valrie shot 7 for 12 overall.

Jamisen Smith had a hot start to his Point Park tenure as the IU East transfer struck for 19 points on 4 for 5 from long range. He was 3 for 3 from the arc in the first half as the Pioneers eventual built a 45-19 lead at the break. 

Nathaniel Van made it three starters in double figures with 10 points and five boards. Jordan Stowe added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench, and he was 5 for 6 from the foul line. 

Point Park held a big rebounding edge at 63-33. Joining Valrie with double-digit rebounds were 7-2 center Jags Jhawar and 6-10 backup Nazareth Fisher with 10 boards apiece. Those three combined for 23 defensive rebounds. 

Jalen Stamps added seven points and six assists from the point guard position. He raced in for a layup and a 20-10 lead at the 10:58 mark of the first half. Valrie scored on the fastbreak off a nice feed from Van for a 43-19 lead late in the half. 

PSU-Shenango went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal from the last two minutes of the first half to the first seven minutes of the second half. During that time, Point Park outscored the Lions, 24-2, and built a 63-21 lead. 

The Lions made only 7 for 36 in the first half for 19 percent. By the end of the the draught, they were shooting 16 percent for the game. Malik Davis started hitting some shots in the last 10 minutes on his way to a team-high 13 points for PSU-Shenango. That pulled the final shooting percentage up to 22 percent for the night at 16 for 72. 

Thursday's opener was the first of five straight home games to start the year for Point Park. That continutes on Monday, Oct. 30 for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff versus PSU-Greater Allegheny. Home games are played at CCAC-Allegheny.