Head Coach Bob Rukavina, entering his 29th season at the helm of the Pitt-Johnstown men's basketball program, and his Mountain Cats will tip-off the 2017-18 season on Friday and Saturday the the Indiana University (PA) IRMC/Hilton Garden Inn Classic.  The Mountain Cats take on Virginia State University on Friday and Urbana (OH) University on Saturday.  Both games are scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m. at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on the IUP campus.

Following the IUP Tournament to open the year, Pitt-Johnstown will begin its 13-game home schedule on a brand new wooden Sports Center floor, starting with PSAC doubleheaders with the women's team against Bloomsburg University and East Stroudsburg University on November 18 and 19.  The women's game will tip-off both days at 1 p.m. with the men's game scheduled for 3 p.m.  In addition, between games of the November 18 doubleheader, Pitt-Johnstown will hold its floor dedication ceremony and recognize former Mountain Cat basketball standout and Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Famer Rich Ragan for his fundraising efforts for the new floor.
After last season's 19-11 campaign, a third straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament berth, and a second straight appearance in the conference quarterfinals, Coach Rukavina welcomes back three seniors and an a trio of other lettermen to navigate through a difficult PSAC schedule.

Pitt-Johnstown will be led by a pair of seniors in First-Team All-PSAC Western Division point guard Dale Clancy (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and senior forward Isaac Vescovi (Patton, Pa.).

Clancy, who became the Mountain Cats' 28^th 1,000-point scorer on February, 27 2017, will be relied upon heavily to guide the Pitt-Johnstown offense for the fourth consecutive season.  Clancy finished the 2016-17 season third on the team in scoring at 14.0 ppg. and paced the team in assists at 6.2 per game.  He finished 13^th in NCAA Division II in total assists (187) and 14^th in assists per game.  His 77 3-point field goals led the team and his 44.3% 3-point field goal percentage ranked 22^nd nationally.  Clancy also got the job done defensively, ranking 53^rd in the country in steals per game (1.87) and 47^th in total steals (56).

Vescovi, a First-Team Capital One Academic All-District II selection and a member of the PSAC Winter Top-10 Team, was Pitt-Johnstown's second-leading scorer at 15.5 ppg. and rebounder at 4.6 rpg. A year ago.  The PSAC West Co-Player of the Week on February 27, 2017 also led the Mountain Cats in field goal percentage at 59.3%.  That percentage also ranked 29^th nationally at 59.3% (194-327).

This year's third senior, 6'6" forward Levi Masua (Pittsburgh, Pa.), looks to lock down a starting spot after providing Pitt-Johnstown very solid minutes off the bench in 2016-17.  Masua, an athletic rebounder and defender, saw action in all 30 Mountain Cats games and averaged an impressive 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.

Three other lettermen, sophomore Josh Wise (Washington, Pa.) and juniors Olando King, Jr. (Dallas, TX) and Romano Sebastiani (Greensburg, Pa.) are all talented guards who will compete for playing time after giving Pitt-Johnstown significant contributions last year.

Wise could take over a starting guard spot after averaging 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game as a red-shirt freshman.

King and Sebastiani will add depth and talent for the Mountain Cats after combining to average about four points and just over two rebounds per game.

After red-shirting a year ago, forward Adam Kline (Monaca, Pa.) will make his Pitt-Johnstown debut and provide additional size and strength in the paint.

Coach Rukavina also added four talented freshman who could make an immediate impact on this year's squad.

Drew Magestro (Sharon, Pa.) and Marcin Wiszomirski (Warsaw, Poland) join the Mountain cats after winning a PIAA State Championship at Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017.  Magestro averaged 21.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game on his way to earning First-Team All-State honors.  Wiszomirski averaged 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game as a senior.  The Third-Team PIAA All-State choice also scored 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to be named Most Valuable Player of the 2017 PIAA State Championship game.

Freshman guard Steven Votodian (Munhall, Pa.) was an Honorable Mention All-Section selection after averaging 10.0 points per game as a senior at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, Darrell Brock, who is expected to red-shirt in 2017-18, averaged 10.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 rebounds per game at First Love Christian Academy a year ago.

Pitt-Johnstown welcomes back a large amount of talent, but the Mountain Cats must replace three seniors from last year's roster, including three-time All-PSAC West selection A.J. Leahey (Lilly, Pa.), Jake Laravie (Kettering, OH), who ranked sixth in the country in assist-to-turnover-ratio at 3,32, and defensive specialist Rasaun Mosley (York, Pa.).