NITRO, W.Va. — The Point Pleasant boys basketball team fell to 0-4 on the 2012-13 season Friday night following a 76-59 setback to host Nitro in a non-conference matchup in Kanawha County.

The visiting Big Blacks managed to keep things close through three quarters of play, but the Wildcats (1-1) used a 21-9 surge over the final eight minutes of regulation to turn a narrow five-point advantage into a sizable 17-point triumph.

NHS claimed a small 18-16 edge through one period of play, then went on a 20-13 run in the second canto to claim a 38-29 intermission advantage. Point Pleasant responded with a 21-17 spurt to pull within 55-50 headed into the fourth, but never came closer the rest of the way.

Wade Martin led PPHS with a game-high 26 points, followed by Dillon McCarty with 19 points and Andrew Williamson with nine markers. Adam Slack and Garrett Norris respectively rounded out the visitor scoring with three and two points.

Trevon Taylor and Sam Neff both paced Nitro with 21 points apiece, followed by Angelo Sirianni with 18 points and Hunter Ferrari with eight markers.

Despite the loss, the 59 points marked a season-high for the Big Blacks. It was also the second time in four contests that PPHS allowed 76 points to an opponent.