Box Score
The Mountain Cats erased a 17-point deficit to retake the lead in the second half, but California University (PA) recovered and went on to a 74-65 PSAC victory over Pitt-Johnstown, Wednesday night in California.  Ian Vescovi scored 15 points, and Rich Audu added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Mountain Cats, who slipped to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC Western Division.
 
Two 3-pointers from Audu in the early going gave the Mountain Cats a three-point lead, but California (PA) used a 17-0 run over the next four minutes to go in front 20-6 on a bucket from Avery Allmond and a free-throw from Richard Smith.
 
Jake Laravie hit a 3-pointer at 8:33 to get the Pitt-Johnstown deficit back into single-digits, before the Vulcans score eight straight to build their lead to 17 at 32-15 with 6:12 left in the half.
 
The Mountain Cats battled back with a 13-4 run, capped by an A.J. Leahey 3-pointer and a lay-up from Ian Vescovi, to narrow the gap to 36-28 at the halftime break.
 
Pitt-Johnstown kept the momentum to start the second half and extended the run to 23-5 to regain the lead 38-37 on two Dale Clancy free-throws at 16:16.
 
With the game tied at 45, California (PA) got five consecutive points from Jake Jacubec and a basket from Smith to close a 13-2 run and push the lead back out to 11 with eight minutes to play.
 
Laravie's free-throws got Pitt-Johnstown to within seven, but Drew Cook answered with a 3-pointer for the Vulcans that made it 63-61 at the 5:42 mark.
 
The Mountain Cats clawed back again.  This time, Matt Palo's basket at 3:05 cut it to 63-60, but California (PA) hit 8-10 from the free-throw line in the last 56 seconds to hold on.
 
Vescovi's 15 points and five rebounds paced four Mountain Cats who scored in double figures.  Audu had 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, and Clancy finished with 14 points and four assists.  Pitt-Johnstown also got 13 points from Palo in the loss.
 
The Mountain Cats shot a season-low 34.3% (23-67) from the field, including just 5-28 from 3-point range.  California (PA) shot 50% (27-54) and 4-8 from behind the 3-point line.
 
Smith scored a game-high 19 points, and Jacubec chipped-in 14 points for the Vulcans, who improved to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC-West.
           
The Mountain Cats return home to host a conference doubleheader with the Lady Cats against Seton Hill University on Saturday in the Sports Center.  The Lady Cats will tip-off at 1 p.m. followed by the men's game at 3 p.m.  Pitt-Johnstown will also host a non-conference game against Carlow University on December 13 at 2 p.m.