Box Score
A.J. Leahey had game-highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Mountain Cats pulled away late in a 65-56 victory over The College of Saint Rose (NY) in Saturday's first round of the 2014 IUP Classic.  Pitt-Johnstown raised its record to 3-1.
 
Despite Pitt-Johnstown shooting 33% and Saint Rose shooting just 23% in the first half, the Mountain Cats were able to get off to a quick start.  Ian Vescovi and Leahey combined for nine early points, and Jake Laravie came off of the bench and knocked down a 3-pointer that put Pitt-Johnstown in front 17-9 just over 11 minutes into the game.
 
Saint Rose scored the next five to cut the deficit to three on a lay-up and free-throw from Jalaun Taylor, but the Mountain Cats outscored the Golden Knights 9-2 over the final 8:15 to build a 10-point halftime advantage.
 
Another 3-pointer from Laravie pushed it out to 23-14 at 4:35, before Levi Masua hit a free-throw with two seconds left to put Pitt-Johnstown up, 26-16, at the break.
 
Dale Clancy's 3-pointer extended the Mountain Cat lead to 29-18 a minute into the second half, but Saint Rose answered with a 15-4 run over the next 4:39, capped by Chris Dorgler's basket, to tie it at 33 at 14:10.
 
Pitt-Johnstown recovered and went back up by five on Leahey's third 3-pointer of the day, and Ajan Smith's bucket at 6:23 pushed it out to 51-43.
 
Leahey knocked-down another 3-pointer that gave the Mountain their largest lead of the game at 59-47 with 3:34 remaining.  The Golden Knights followed with a quick 7-0 spurt to climb to within five, but Laravie made all four of his free-throws in the final 47 seconds that helped Pitt-Johnstown preserve the win.
 
Along with Leahey's 16 points (4-7 3FG) and 10 rebounds, Laravie had three 3-pointers and 15 points, and Vescovi added 13 points and nine rebounds for Pitt-Johnstown.  The Mountain Cats also got eight points, four rebounds, and four assists from Clancy and seven points and four rebounds from Smith.
 
Pitt-Johnstown finished the day shooting 39.6% (19-48) from the field, but made 10-of-22 from behind the 3-point line and 17-of-23 from the free-throw line.  Saint Rose shot just 34.8% (23-66) from the floor and was held to just 3-of-21 from 3-point range.
 
Jack Jones and Max Weaver each scored 12 points, and Dorgler chipped-in 12 points for the Golden Knights, who slipped to 4-2 on the year.
           
The Mountain Cats close out the IUP Classic on Sunday against Philadelphia School of Sciences, before traveling to a PSAC game at California University (PA) on Wednesday.  Pitt-Johnstown will then return home to host a conference doubleheader with the Lady Cats against Seton Hill University on Saturday in the Sports Center.