Men's Basketball Opens Season With 82-65 Win at Columbia Union

11/15/2006

Head Coach Bob Rukavina (18th season) and the Mountain Cat men's basketball team traveled to Columbia Union (MD) College Wednesday night to open the 2006-07 season and came away with an 82-65 victory over the Pioneers. Junior forward Chris Gilliam (Baltimore, MD) scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to lead Pitt Johnstown.
Gilliam, last year's Division II leader in field goal percentage, finished the night shooting 9-11 from the field and 3-3 from the free-throw line. Gilliam also grabbbed five of his 11 rebounds on the offensive end. Senior guard Dwight Hines (Aliquippa, Pa.) added 18 points on 6-12 shooting, including 4-9 from behind the three-point line, while sophomore guard Quinton Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore center Kyle Goldcamp (Pittsburgh, Pa.) each chipped in nine points. Mountain Cat sophomore guard/forward Marcus Tullis (Johnstown, Pa.) had eight points and four rebounds, and senior guard J.J. Schumacher (Castle Shannon, Pa.) scored six points and dished out a game-high six assists in the victory.
Pitt-Johnstown broke open a 37-29 halftime lead by outscoring the Pioneers, 45-36 in the second half. The Mountain Cats ended the night shooting 57.9% (33-57) from the field, while holding Columbia Union to just 37.7% (20-53). The Mountain Cats also connected on eight three-pointers and out rebounded the Pioneers, 41-25.
Corey Blythe's 17 points and six rebounds led Columbia Union. Darren Travis (15 points) and Rashard McNealy (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Pioneers, who fell to 0-1.
The Mountain Cats will host the 2006 Pitt-Johnstown Tip-Off Classic on Friday and Saturday in the Sports Center. In Friday's opener, West Liberty State (WV) College will take on the University of District of Columbia at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Mountain Cats against Wheeling Jesuit University at 7:30. On Saturday, U.D.C. will play Wheeling Jesuit at 5:30 p.m., before Pitt-Johnstown and West Liberty State play at 7:30.

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