Portlaoise Panthers 79 Ulster University 77
Men’s National League Division 1
Portlaoise Panthers survived a severe test by Ulster University in St Mary’s Hall on Sunday afternoon to preserve their unbeaten record in Men’s Division 1 heading into the new year.
Coming up against an Ulster outfit that was eager to avenge their 14-point defeat at the hands of Jack Scully’s side in Jordanstown back in October, Portlaoise made no shortage of runs, but their opponents always came roaring back.
Even after a quick-fire three-point treble by Xabi Arriaga had helped propel the North Conference leaders 14 points in front in the fourth quarter, Ulster still had the means to battle their way back into a one-point lead with 30 seconds remaining.
Yet, faced with the possibility of shipping their first loss in 11 games so far in this campaign, Panthers demonstrated a resolve that has served them well, Eric Anderson getting in for a deuce that effectively saw them over the line.
An early eight-point run helped Portlaoise open up a 21-9 lead, but the visitors accounted for the final six points of the first quarter to reduce their arrears to as much (21-15).
Portlaoise continued to produce a series of mini surges only to see Ulster constantly recoup the lost ground, so much so, that they led by a point heading towards the half-time recess.
Another Anderson bucket did arrest that particular revival and saw the home side take a slender 35-34 lead into the break.
Arriaga and James Phelan combined for 14 points in the third, helping Panthers establish a slightly more comfortable 60-53 cushion heading into the fourth.
And the hosts appeared to have taken a decisive grip on proceedings early in the final period after Arriaga landed a further nine from beyond the arc in less than two minutes to help open up a 14-point gap.
But Ulster were not going away and buckets from Conor Liston and Robert Graham, together with two free-throws from Curtis Larousse, helped see them rocket back into a one-point lead with 30 seconds remaining.
Portlaoise called another time-out to strategize a late swipe for the spoils and they duly produced one when Anderson got in for a deuce that was followed by a free throw from Phelan.
Jack Scully’s men are back on the road next Saturday when they make the trip to UL Arena hoping to kick-start 2025 with a victory over Limerick Sport Eagles.
TOP SCORERS – Portlaoise Panthers: Xabi Arriaga (28), James Phelan (15), Eric Anderson (13), Liam Kinsella (11). Ulster University: Conor Liston (24), Curtis Larousse (14), Nathan Karren (10), Robert Graham (9).
PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Cillian O’Connell, James Phelan, Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Gary Morrissey, Xabi Arriaga, Kyle Burke, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Liam Kinsella.
ULSTER UNIVERSITY: Robert Graham, Aaron Rooney, Odhran Hegarty, Adam Ryan, Shane O’Connor, Conor Liston, Shane Morgan, Nathan Karren, Darragh Ferguson, Curtis Larousse.
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