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University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Athletics

PITT-JOHNSTOWN MOUNTAIN CATS

Men's Basketball

Mountain Cats Fall, 75-68, to California (PA)

12/03/2007

Junior guard Matt Ionadi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) poured in a career-high 18 points off the bench for the Mountain Cats, but California University (PA) battled back from an eight-point first half deficit to defeat Pitt Johnstown, 75-68, Monday night in the Sports Center. With the loss, the Mountain Cats dropped to 3-2 on the season.
The Mountain Cats opened up a 10-2 lead to start the game and went on another 10-2 run to increase the lead 28-20 with 7:17 to play in the first half, highlighted by Ionadi's 12 points. Pitt Johnstown eventually took a 39-36 halftime lead. However, the Vulcans came out in the second half and dominated the scoring in the paint to erase the deficit and build their own 13-point lead with :37 to play. The Mountain Cats cut the lead 73-68 on three three-pointers, but that was as close as they would get.
Ionadi finished the night shooting 7-9 from the field and 4-5 from three-point range. Senior guard Rashad Mintz (Washington, D.C.) was the only other Mountain Cat to score in double figures. Mintz added 15 points and three rebounds, while William Sharpe (Johnstown, Pa.), Quinton Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Chris Gilliam (Baltimore, MD) all scored seven points. Davis and Gilliam also pulled down nine and five rebounds, respectively for Head Coach Bob Rukavina.
With his seven points, Gilliam jumped Mike Gresik (1981-85) and moved into seventh place on the Mountain Cat All-Time Scoring List with 1,241 points. Gilliam is now 10 points shy of Eugene Wilson (1998-03) for sixth place on the scoring list.
Pitt Johnstown shot 48.2% (27-56) from the field, made 10 three-pointers and connected on four of their six free-throws. The Vulcans shot an impressive 29-49 (59.2%) from the field, 3-8 (37.5%) from behind the three-point line and 14-22 (63.6%) from the free-throw line. California (PA) dominated the Mountain Cats in the paint, outscoring Pitt Johnstown 44-30. The Vulcans also turned 21 Mountain Cat turnovers into 25 points.
Ron Banks' 18 points led three California (PA) players who scored in double figures. James Hairston and Alioune Mbaye each scored 15 points, while Mbaye pulled down a team high nine rebounds to help the Vulcans improve to 4-1.
The Mountain Cats travel to Bloomsburg University for another non-conference game on Wednesday, before breaking for finals. Pitt Johnstown will then finish the first semester against Penn State Greater-Allegheny on Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sports Center.
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