Box Score
Mercyhurst used a 17-2 second-half run to erase a four-point deficit on its way to an 81-72 PSAC victory over the Mountain Cats, Wednesday night in the Sports Center.  Matt Palo's game-high 19 points led the way for Pitt-Johnstown, which slipped to 12-12 overall and 9-11 in conference-play.
 
Pitt-Johnstown took advantage of seven first half 3-pointers to open-up an early nine-point lead.  The Mountain Cats got consecutive 3-pointers from Jake Laravie and A.J. Leahey to go in front 16-10 seven minutes in.
 
Damon Jones' lay-up got the Lakers right back to within four, but Nate Snodgrass followed with a 3-pointer, and Ian Vescovi made two free-throws to give Pitt-Johnstown a 29-20 advantage with7:12 left in the half.
 
Mercyhurst countered with a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to 31-30 on Gerrae Williams' 3-pointer.  The Lakers went on to regain the lead 34-33 a Kayode Ajenifuja bucket in the paint at the 2:52 mark.
 
Palo connected on the Mountain Cats' seventh 3-pointer of the half to give the lead back to Pitt-Johnstown, before Ajenifuja split a pair free-throws with just under a minute left to get Mercyhurst to within one at 39-38 at the break.
 
Snodgrass' lay-up two minutes into the second half put the Mountain Cats back up by four, but Mercyhurst answered with a 17-2 run over the next eight minutes to regain the lead and build it to 11.
 
After falling behind by four, the Lakers scored the next nine to regain the lead 51-46 on Ajenifuja basket, before Jean Onana's jumper at the midway point of the second half made it 59-48.
 
Pitt-Johnstown recovered and got two free-throws from Dale Clancy to get it down to 65-62 with 4:32 left, but that was as close as the Mountain Cats could get.  Mercyhurst pushed the lead back out six, then five Lakers combined to hit 9-of-10 free-throws in the final 1:31 to pull away.
 
Palo finished with a game-high 19 points, and Leahey added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds to pace Pitt-Johnstown. Clancy had 14 points and five assists off the bench, and Snodgrass tallied 12 points.  The Mountain Cats also got nine points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks from Vescovi in the loss.
 
Vescovi currently ranks 26^th on the Mountain Cat All-Time Scoring List with 1,010 career points and sixth on the Pitt-Johnstown All-Time Rebounding List with 634 rebounds.
 
Pitt-Johnstown shot a solid 48% (24-50) from the field, 10-21 from behind the 3-point line, and 14-17 from the charity stripe.  Mercyhurst ended the night shooting 54% (28-52) from the floor, 4-14 from 3-point range, and 21-28 from the free-throw line.
 
Sean Beins and Ajenifuja each scored 16 points, while Callon Dailey and Onana scored 10 points apiece for the Lakers, who improved to 19-7 overall and 16-5 in the PSAC.
 
The Mountain Cats will celebrate Senior Day with a PSAC doubleheader with the Lady Cats against Indiana (PA) for Senior Day on Saturday.  The Lady Cats will tip-off at 1 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 3 p.m.  Pitt-Johnstown will then close out the regular season with a conference game at Edinboro next Wednesday.