Box Score A.J. Leahey poured in a career-high 26 points, including all six of his 3-pointers, and Pitt-Johnstown made 32-of-39 free-throws on its way to a 95-80 PSAC Crossover victory at Cheyney, Sunday afternoon. The Mountain Cats improved to 7-6 overall and 4-5 in the PSAC Western Division.
The Mountain Cats, who shot 61% from the field, opened-up an early 10-point lead and connected on 16-of-21 first half free-throws to maintain the double digit advantage at the half.
Rich Audu's basket, followed by a Leahey 3-pointer gave Pitt-Johnstown an 18-8 lead five minutes in, before Cheyney pulled to within three at 21-18 on Blake McGlond's bucket midway through the half.
The Wolves never got any closer the rest of the day. The Mountain Cats hit eight straight free-throws, including a pair from
Dale Clancy with 4:44 remaining, to push the lead back out to nine.
Cheyney was able to cut it to five at the two-minute mark, but
Matt Palo accounted for Pitt-Johnstown's final eight points to increase the Mountain Cat advantage to 46-35 at the half.
Ian Vescovi's basket early in the second half increased it to 55-40, and the Mountain Cats maintained at least an eight-point lead the rest of the way.
After Jerrod Johnson's jumper got Cheyney's deficit back into single digits with 7:23 to play, Pitt-Johnstown answered right back with another Leahey 3-pointer and a lay-up from
Jake Laravie to get it back out to 13.
Roshon Fields' then gave the Mountain Cats their largest lead of the game at 95-78 with 13 second left, and Pitt-Johnstown went on to the 15-point victory.
Leahey's game-high 26 points (6-6 3FG) and seven rebounds led four Mountain Cats who scored in double figures. Palo had 18 points (6-6 FT), while Vescovi had 14 points and five rebounds, and Audu collected a dozen points and five rebounds. The Mountain Cats also nine points apiece from
Nate Snodgrass and Laravie in the win.
Pitt-Johnstown shot an impressive 61.4% (27-44) from the floor, 9-14 from 3-point range, and 32-39 from the free-throw line. Cheyney finished the day shooting 50.8% (31-61) from the field, but just 8-23 from behind the 3-point line and 10-17 from the charity stripe.
Kevin Larkin scored 18 points and Darryl Bryant and Juwan Mullen each tallied 13 points for the Wolves, who fell to 1-12 overall and 0-8 in the PSAC East.
The Mountain Cats return home to host a conference crossover doubleheader with the Lady Cats against Millersville on Wednesday and a PSAC Western Division doubleheader against Gannon on January 14. The Lady Cats will tip-off both doubleheaders at 5:30 p.m. in the Sports Center, followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
