BUTLER TWP - The preseason goals were modest: A .500 record and a home playoff game.

Butler County Community College's men's basketball team is on bonus time.

"We've exceeded our expectations by a long shot," Pioneers coach Tony Grenek said. "If we don't win another game, it's been a fantastic season."

Saturday's 66-54 win over CCAC Allegheny at the BCCC Field House improved the Pioneers to 16-8 overall, 5-4 in Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference play.

This is BCCC's first winning season in eight years.

The regular season ends with a home game against Potomac State tonight. A win gives the Pioneers a first-round bye in the WPCC playoffs and a likely rematch with CCAC Allegheny at home this Saturday.

A loss and BCCC plays a first-round playoff game at home Wednesday against either CCAC South or Pitt-Titusville.

"I'm so glad for these kids," Grenek said. "For them to do what they've done is truly amazing.

"If we get the bye and win one playoff game, we'll probably be playing Beaver for the league championship. To be the only school in the league not offering scholarships, having no dorms, no players from Philadelphia, Detroit or Texas … it's incredible."

BCCC won a battle of wills Saturday, putting a game away down the stretch that was tied seven times and had 11 lead changes.

With the score tied at 44 with 9:24 remaining, the Pioneers went on a 15-5 run over the next six minutes to secure a 59-49 advantage and held serve from there.

Wil Miller and Jeremy Peterson sank 3-pointers during the surge. Both had three treys on the day and the Pioneers sank 11 3-pointers as a team.

"They were pounding the offensive boards, got themselves second opportunities and took advantage of them," CCAC Allegheny coach Bill Shay said.

The Cougars (13-11, 6-4) had defeated the Pioneers by six points earlier this season.

"They've really built that program back up and it's great for Western Pennsylvania junior college basketball," Shay said. "There's a lot of tradition at this school up here."

Shay knows something about tradition. He is 767-334 in 37 years of coaching basketball at CCAC Allegheny.

Matt Lobaugh paced the Pioneers with 19 points Saturday. Miller added 12 points and Peterson 11 points and six rebounds.

Miller is a Butler graduate who never played high school basketball.

"Four of our 11 players never played a minute of high school ball," Grenek said. "Wil Miller helped us sustain momentum in the second half."

Butler graduate Joel Rehm had 10 of 33 Pioneer rebounds before fouling out with 2:58 remaining.

"I can't say I'm surprised we're where we're at," point guard Rehm said. "I'm a firm believer that any team can win on any night.

"Coach Grenek is the difference-maker here. He worked so hard to find players and bring them in. Every practice, every game, he puts in time and effort and it's rubbed off on everybody else."

Rehm is averaging nine points, seven assists and four rebounds per game this year.

"Joel's had an outstanding attitude," Grenek said. "But he's been surrounded by outstanding attitudes.

"I wish I could say I'm a miracle worker, but this team's success isn't of my doing. These players have done it. I'm so proud of this team, yet I'm starting to feel depressed because it (the season) is almost over."

Dan Muto led the Cougars with 23 points. Both teams had 15 turnovers.

CCAC-ALLEGHENY (54)

Ryne Liggins 3-13 0-0 7, Ariel Baptiste 3-8 2-3 9, Dan Muto 6-14 8-9 23, Brad Fusco 4-7 0-0 8, Mark Ferguson 2-4 1-4 5, Justin Hunt 0-1 0-0 0, Mark Carter 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 19-49 11-17 54

BCCC (66)

Chris Harmon 1-7 4-5 7, Jeremy Peterson 3-7 2-2 11, Tyler Hempfling 0-1 0-0 0, Matt Goettler 2-6 2-2 8, Matt Lobaugh 8-14 2-5 19,. Wil Miller 4-6 1-2 12, Corey Robinson 0-1 0-0 0, Grant Bailey 1-3 2-2 5, Joel Rehm 2-7 0-0 4. Totals: 21-52 13-18 66

Three-point goals

- .Liggins, Baptiste, Muto 3; Harmon, Peterson 3, Goettler 2, Lobaugh, Miller 3, Bailey

Today:

Potomac State @ BCCC, 7 p.m.