Despite being picked to finish eighth in the American Mideast Conference, the Point Park Pioneers have gotten off to a fast 4-2 start.The season began with the Daemen Tournment and a win over 25th ranked Siena Heights University 81-70. The team then won its second game, 90-6,3 against the University of Maine at Fort Kent. “Those games started us off, and we did what we were supposed to do, but it was our first time playing together,” junior forward Devon Alexander said.  “Pretty much having all new starters and a lot of the transfers that came in, too. A lot of us were getting familiar with fundamentals such as where to pass, how high, or how low. We got out 2-0, but we learned a few things both positive and negative.”Assistant Coach Gabe Bubon assessed the weekend’s games.  “Siena Heights was a great victory for us,” Bubon said. “They are a top 25 team. They are a senior-led team, [but] our guys … played really well. The second game, the team wasn’t quite as good, but we still performed well and scored lots of points. It was a great opening weekend for us.”  Following the two wins, the team faced ninth ranked West Liberty University, who was coming off 100-point win in their previous game. Point Park lost the game 157-89.”It brings you back to reality really fast,” Bubon said. “They are one of the top teams in the nation, and they really showed our guys where they need to be. It was a very humbling experience.”Alexander was impressed with West Liberty’s shooting.”They were very tough and they are ranked [highly],” Alexander said. “They are a great shooting team-  actually, the best shooting team I have ever seen and played against. I feel that they can play with a lot of teams on the Division I level. They can shoot the lights out of the ball. We got down so early. I blinked, and it was 11-2 or 14-2 already. That is how well they shoot, and we learned a lot from that. We learned that we still have a lot to do, and they were just flat out tough. Whoever has them in their conference is in trouble, I guarantee that.”The team came off of the loss with a 97-89 loss to Buffalo State College at the Buffalo State Tournament.  “We were winning 16-4 just to start the game off, but even when we were up that much, we didn’t have the tenacity or energy to take over the game,” Alexander said. “We were going through things nonchalantly even though we were up. I don’t know if we lost momentum from that West Liberty game or not, but we were winning. [We just] didn’t have energy. At times, we got back to within one point, but there were too many turnovers and missed foul shots. I think we missed 20 foul shots in that game, and it’s hard to win if you miss [that many]. I think we also had 28 or 29 turnovers, so we did everything that was possible for us to lose the game.”The team defeated Uniontown, Pa.’sPenn State-Fayette 104-68 in its next contest.”This is another team that we usually beat,” Alexander said. “It doesn’t matter who you are playing and Coach worked us hard in practice. We did a good job of taking them out early.  We got a lot of help from our bench that game.”The team most recently squared off against West Virginia Tech, winning 91-79 and extending its winning streak to two games.”They are an NAIA Division I team, and they have a lot of talent on their team,” Bubon said. “We did what we needed to do. We didn’t turn the ball over and … it was our best performance offensively thus far.”Alexander reflected on the composition of West Virginia Tech.”They were pretty good, too,” Alexander said. “They were a tough team. They were undefeated and came in with a certain energy about them.”Senior guard and leading scorer, Jimmy Sherwood, also reflected on the win.”I think it was a nice surprise … because I think we all have confidence in each other, [and] we know what we are capable of,” Sherwood said. “I even think that we impressed the coaches.”The team will face a big challenge in its next game against top-ranked Walsh University. The game will be accompanied by the first fan van of the season.  “It is a big matchup. Walsh comes in at 4-0 and were picked to repeat as AMC champions,” Director of Athletic Communications Kevin Taylor said.  “They are ranked number 1 in NAIA Division II. They have been to five straight national tournaments; they won the national title in 2005 and are coming off a one-point loss in the national championship last year. They have a lot of players back from that team. so it isdefinitely an early test and … for the Pioneers.””Walsh is tough,” Alexander said. “We have played some tough games in the past, but by no means do we feel [as if] we are going to lose when we are coming in. We are not nervous. I think that we have out-rebounded every single team so far, so if we do the small things, I think we will be fine. We are a different team than last year and we want to win.”Bubon looked at the game from a fan point of view  “It’s going to be an exciting atmosphere [for fans],” Bubon said.  “I know that the guys are excited. It’s not every day that you get to play the number one team in the country … at your place, so, hopefully, the guys will step up.”