PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- In a matchup of the top two teams in the River States Conference East Division, No. 22-ranked Point Park University men's basketball earned a 72-64 victory at Shawnee State (Ohio) University on Saturday.

The Pioneers (23-2, 12-2 RSC) have swept the season series over the Bears (17-7, 11-3 RSC) and moved into sole possession of first place in the division for the time being. There are three games left in the season.

Jo Valrie went over 1,000 points during his Point Park career to highlight the victory. In just 50 games in a Pioneers uniform, the junior from Houston, Texas, now has 1,009 points for an average of 20.2 ppg.

Valrie entered the game with 985 points since coming to campus last year. He didn't waste any time becoming just the 20th player in school history to have 1,000 at Point Park. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds the first half and finished with 24 and 13 boards. 

Point Park put four starters in double figures with Nathaniel Van turning in a strong game of 12 points and 12 rebounds alongside Jags Jhawar with 12 points, eight boards and two blocks. Jalen Stamps added 11 points and four assists. 

It was a battle for 40 minutes with 11 ties and eight lead changes. Point Park had a slim lead of 36-35 at the half. The biggest lead for either team was 34-29 by Point Park late in the half. Valrie scored off an offensive rebound to put the Pioneers up one at the half and give him 1,000 career. 

Shawnee State had its biggest lead of 46-43 on Tyreke Johnson's layup at the 14:03 mark of the second half. The Bears were still holding on to a 49-48 lead at the under-10:00 media timeout. 

With just over 8:00 left, Van got a big rebound after a missed 3-pointer by SSU and hit a 3-pointer at the other end to put the Pioneers up 53-51. Stamps assisted on the play, and Point Park had the lead for good. 

Stamps fed Jhawar for a layup on the next possession and then drove in himself to keep the lead. Ahead by only one, Jordan Stowe found Valrie of another layup and a 61-58 lead at 3:50.

Stowe made a steal and a layup to put the Pioneers in a great spot up 65-58 with just 1:57 left. SSU stayed in it with Tre Beard getting a trip to the foul line for three shots and coverting all of them.

But Van connected on a 3-pointer to answer, and then Valrie and Stowe combined to make 4 of 4 free throws after that to put the game away. 

Point Park came through with its No. 1-ranked rebounding status in the NAIA leading the glass, 42-32. The paint was a factor offensively with the Pioneers leading 42-26 on points in the paint. 

Valrie was 10 for 20 shooting. Of his 13 rebounds, five came on the offensive end. That helped the Pioneers lead 13-2 in second-chance points. The Bears had only three offensive rebounds all game.

Keith Germain had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Johnson had 16 and eight boards for Shawnee State. Beard added 15 and made three treys. The Pioneers held SSU leading scorer Chaze Harris (20.6 ppg) to just six points on 2 for 12 from the floor. 

Point Park will be off until a road trip to Alice Lloyd (Ky.) next Saturday, Feb. 17. The Pioneers then finish up the regular season with home dates versus Ohio Christian (Feb. 20) and WVU Tech (Feb. 23).