Box Score
A.J. Leahey produced a game-high 23 points along with seven rebounds, but Slippery Rock got the last laugh in overtime, outscoring the Pitt-Johnstown in the period, 14-12, which led to The Rock defeating the Mountain Cats 72-70 in PSAC West Division competition Wednesday at the Morrow Fieldhouse in Slippery Rock.
 
A jumper and a free throw in the last 12 seconds by Slippery Rock's Malcolm Richardson was the deciding factor in pulling off the win for The Rock, who advanced to 10-9 overall and 5-8 in conference play.
 
Dale Clancy, Isaac Vescovi and Nate Snodgrass all chipped in with over 10 points each for Pitt-Johnstown, who fall to 10-7 overall and 7-6 in conference action. Clancy totaled 15 points, six rebounds and three assists, Vescovi added 14 points and five rebounds while Snodgrass finished with 12 points and three assists.
 
After the Mountain Cats were trailing 6-4 and with 3:59 into the game, Leahey made a layup from an assist by Snodgrass to tie the game at six points. Slipper Rock followed up with a Cornelius Brown jumper and a three-pointer from Richardson to give The Rock a five-point, 11-6 advantage.
 
Richardson and Brown both led Slippery Rock with 19 points each.
 
Slippery Rock eventually built a 20-10 lead after going on a 6-0 run that was finished off by a jumper from Chaquille Pratt with 10:40 remaining in the half.
 
Leahey answered with a layup 20 seconds later, but The Rock was able to follow up with four straight points with a tip-in from Brown and free throws from Pratt. Slippery Rock scored four of the last six first half points, a layup from Erik Raleigh and free throws from Abdul King, that helped them amount a 33-20 halftime lead
 
Vescovi opened the second half with a shot from beyond the arc off of an assist from Dale Clancy to cut Slippery Rock's lead to 10 points. They then scored six straight points following the Vescovi's basket to give The Rock a 39-23 advantage with 17:31 left in the game.
 
Pitt-Johnstown retorted with a 13-0 run in the next six minutes to dismantle Slippery Rock's lead to just 39-36.
 
Behind 45-41 after a layup from Slippery Rock's Brown, Leahey made a layup and a free throw to get the Mountain Cats within a point of the lead. A layup from Richardson put The Rock up 49-44, but a tip-in from Vescovi and a three-point shot from Clancy tied the game at 49-49 with 5:34 left.
 
Leahey drained a three-pointer 33 seconds later to put UPJ ahead 52-49, and eventually built a 56-50 advantage after Leahey added two more free throws.
 
Pitt-Johnstown maintained a lead up until there were five second remaining in regulation. Clancy made a pair of free throws with 1:38 left to make the score 58-53 in favor of the Mountain Cats, but Slippery Rock ended the second half on a 5-0 run. King nailed a free throw with five seconds left to tie the game at 58 points and send it into overtime.
 
Leahey scored four of the first six points in extra time to help the Mountain Cats gain an early 62-61 advantage. The lead changed 10 times throughout the period with both teams unable to score more than two points without giving up a basket on defense.
 
Pratt made a layup with 1:31 left to give Slippery Rock a 69-68 advantage, but a minute later, Clancy was fouled by Brown and made both foul shots to put Pitt-Johnstown ahead, 70-69 with 30 seconds left. Richardson won the game for The Rock 18 seconds later with a layup and free throw.
 
The Mountain Cats are to return home for a two-game home stand. The team is to host Clarion University Saturday at 3 p.m. and Seton Hill University Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. Both games are a part of doubleheaders with the Mountain Cats.