The PCM Boys Basketball Squad used defensive pressure and Knoxville was unable to make shots and keep pace as the Mustangs defeated the Panthers 77-48 Tuesday night heard live on 95.3 KNIA. Knoxville was able to stay close with early three point shooting while PCM worked it inside to its big man Durant Van Dyke. With the Mustangs leading 39-33 at the halftime break, they went on a 10-0 run to start the 3rd quarter and gradually pulled away, leading by as many as 34 points. Mustangs Coach Fred Lorensen told KNIA/KRLS Sports after some early Knoxville threes, his team was able to gather itself defensively and lock in.

Lorensen: “There for a while we were getting 2 points and they were getting 3s and that’s never a good thing. We have a lot of players who can make permitter shots but we just didn’t need to do that tonight.”

For Knoxville, Coach Troy Pearson said defensive breakdowns led to frustration on the offensive end.

Pearson: “We played a pretty good first half of basketball and in the second half we didn’t get back on defensive transition and let the offensive frustrations lead into our defense and just didn’t bring enough energy in the second half.”

The Panthers went 8/35 from three point range, and 1/13 in the 2nd half. Knoxville was led by freshman Landon Norris getting 12 points in his debut. Van Dyke had 22 for PCM while Carson Vandelune scored 21 points. Knoxville is now 0-1 and will have a full week until its second game of the season against Clarke on Tuesday while PCM is 1-0 and will host Montezuma on Thursday.