Men's Basketball 6/14/2013 11:06:00 AM

#7-seeded Mountain Cats Cruise to East Region Semifinals With 83-54 Win Over #2 Mount Olive

03/15/2008

Chris Gilliam (Baltimore, MD) collected game-highs of 21 points and 14 rebounds, and the #7-seeded Mountain Cat defense held #2-seeded Mount Olive (NC) College to just 3-33 shooting from three-point range in an 83-54 victory in Saturday's first round of the 2008 NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament at California University (PA). Pitt Johnstown advances to the East Regional Semifinals and will play #6-seeded Millersville University on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
The Mountain Cats, whose win was the most lopsided in East Regional Tournament First Round history, jumped out to a 6-0 and never looked back. Pitt Johntown, led by Gilliam's 15 points and nine rebounds in the first half, built the lead to 18-8, before Mount Olive clawed its way back to cut it to 23-19 with 9:46 left in the half. However, the Moutain Cats closed out the first half on a 22-7 run and limited the Trojans to just a Mark Holloman lay-up over the last 5:23 of the half to take a 45-26 halftime lead.
It was more of the same in the second half. Mount Olive, who trailed by 27 points at the 14:40 mark, cut the lead back to 19 points on Craig Hayes' jump shot with 11:24 to play. Pitt Johnstown quickly answered with a Danny Branch (Washington, D.C.) three-pointer that ingnited a 9-2 run to increase the lead to 72-46, and cruised to the 29-point win.
Gilliam's double-double was his 10th of the season and fourth in the last five games. Gilliam finished 8-10from the field and 5-6 from the free-throw line to lead three Mountain Cats who scored in double figures. Marcus Tullis (Johnstown, Pa.) added 15 points on 7-8 shooting and five rebounds, while Branch rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points. Quinton Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had nine points, and William Sharpe(Johnstown, Pa.) scored eight points and dished out a game-high eight assists. Head Coach Bob Rukavina also got seven points from Andy Byer (Tire Hill, Pa.) and eight rebounds from Steve Heidenthal (Clymer, Pa.) in the
victory.
Pitt Johnstown shot an impressive 55.8% (29-52) from the field and 33.3% (3-9) from three-point range, while holding the Trojans to just 31.25 (24-77) from the field and 9.1% (3-33) from behind the three-point line. The Mountain Cats also dominated the glass and out rebounded Mount Olive, 48-34.
Holloman was the only Trojan to finish in double figures in scoring. Holloman scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Hayes chipped in nine points and Justin Melton had eight points and five rebounds for the Trojans, who ended the season with a 24-7 overall record.
Millersville earned a spot in the regional semifinals with a 64-61 upset of #3-seeded Edinboro University. Reggie Bates' game-high 22 points led four Maurauders who scored in double figures.

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