The 13th-ranked Case Western Reserve University men's basketball team opened its 2023-24 campaign with an offensive outburst, defeating the University of Pittsburgh - Bradford 104-73 in the first round of the Bill Sudeck Tournament at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday night.

The Spartans stand at 1-0 following the win, while the Panthers dropped to 1-1 with the setback.

The 104 points scored by the Spartans marked the second-most in a season-opener in program history, behind only the team's output in a 115-107 loss to Frostburg State to open the 2017-18 season. It was the most points ever in a season-opening win, surpassing a 102-point effort against Brandeis to open the 1995-96 campaign.

Graduate student forward Colin Kahl was flawless from the floor in his first career game as a Spartan, shooting eight-of-eight overall and three-of-three from long range for 23 points, while adding six rebounds, two assists, and a pair of blocks. The eight made field goals were the most in a game without missing a shot in program history.

Graduate student guard Anthony Mazzeo added 12 points, five rebounds, and a team-high five assists in his Spartan debut, while graduate student guard Richie Manigault and senior forward Ian Elam each added 12 points as well. Junior forward Umar Rashid scored nine points and paced the squad with 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Spartans never trailed in the game as Kahl connected on a deep three as the shot clock expired to give the Spartans a lead on their first possession of the game. Leading 8-5 three minutes into the game, Rashid, Kahl, Mazzeo, and senior forward Hunter Drenth all connected on three-point shots over the next two minutes to lead a 14-2 run and give CWRU a 22-7 advantage with 14:43 to play. Behind a 19-point effort over the opening 20 minutes from Kahl, the Spartans went on to shoot 59.5% (22-of-37) from the floor and 50.0% (12-of-24) from three-point range in the first half to take a 62-29 lead by the break.

CWRU never led by less than 27 points for the remainder of the game and went ahead by as many as 37 in the game, taking an 88-51 lead with 10:05 left to play on a layup by Kahl, and went on to close out the 31-point win.

CWRU finished the game shooting 48.6% (35-of-72) overall and 44.4% (16-of-36) from three-point range. The Spartans held an 18-3 edge in second-chance points, while the Spartans' bench outscored the Panthers' 55-26.

The win was the 199th victory of Head Coach Todd McGuinness' career, giving him a chance to reach the 200-win mark on Saturday.

The Spartans will face Eastern University in the Championship Game of the Bill Sudeck Tournament after the Eagles earned an 82-62 win over Waynesburg University earlier on Friday night. Waynesburg will take on Pitt.-Bradford in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, with the title contest between CWRU and Eastern scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. tip.