After picking up a 13-point home win to open the season, Head Coach Bob Rukavina and his Mountain Cats traveled to Bloomsburg University on Wednesday for their first road test of the year. The Mountain Cats were tested, but senior forward Paul Byer (Johnstown, Pa.) and junior guard Dwight Hines (Aliquippa, Pa.) each poured in 25 points to help Pitt Johnstown break open a 38-38 halftime tie and earn an 83-75 victory.
Byer finished the game shooting 10-16 from the field, including five three point field goals, and pulling down nine rebounds, while Hines shot 9-18 with three three-pointers, four rebounds and four assists.
Although the Mountain Cats shot just 43.5% (27-62) from the field, they hit 10 three point field goals compared to just three for the Huskies. Pitt Johnstown also forced 19 Bloomsburg turnovers and converted them into 20 points in a game that saw six lead changes and seven ties.
Pitt Johnstown junior guard Steve Scorpion (Murrysville, Pa.) scored 14 points (6-6 from the free-throw line) off of Coach Rukavina's bench. Senior center Carlos Cogsdell (Homestead, Pa.) added 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds and junior guard Joey Tutchstone (Vandergrift, Pa.) chipped in three points, five rebounds and a game-high five assists to help the Mountain Cats start the season 2-0.
John Owens' 19 points led three Bloomsburg players who scored in double figures. Bob Nenstiel and Andrew Jerry scored 14 and 13 points, respectively for the Huskies, while teammate Billy Brian grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. With the loss, Bloomsburg begins the season 0-1.
