Box Score Shippensburg overcame a Pitt-Johnstown halftime lead to defeat the Mountain Cats, 81-73, to earn its ninth win of the season in PSAC crossover action Wednesday in the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center.
 
Three players scored in double digits for the Mountain Cats, who fell to 9-4 overall and 6-2 in conference action with the loss, including a team-high 15 points from Isaac Vescovi along with 13 points and eight rebounds from A.J. Leahey, and 12 points from Dale Clancy.
 
To begin the game, the lead changed five times by the 12:56 first half mark. The fifth and final lead change of the came when Leahey made a layup to put the Mountain Cats ahead, 12-11. The team remained in the lead until the second half.
 
Leahey's layup started a 17-5 Pitt-Johnstown run that put them ahead 27-16 with 7:35 to go in the half. The Mountain Cats biggest first half lead came when Leahey made another layup after a steal by Olando King, Jr. with 1:59 remaining until halftime to give the team a 43-29 advantage.
 
Shippensburg, however, ended the half on a positive note in the half's final minute with a three-pointer from Justin McCarthur, and then a layup by Antonio Kellem with 57 seconds left to cut Pitt-Johnstown's lead to 43-34.
 
Shippensburg shot for just 18% from three-point range, making just 2-of-11 shots, and also shot 45.5% from the field overall, while Pitt-Johnstown shot for 53% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
 
The Raiders eventually cut Pitt-Johnstown's lead to two points four minutes into the second half when Tony Ellis hit a layup off of a defensive rebound and an assist from Dustin Sleva to cut the advantage to 47-44. Thirty seconds later, McCarthur drained a three-pointer to tie the game.
 
The lead changed twice and the score was tied three times more after McCarthur's three-pointer until he made a layup with 9:51 left to give the Raiders a 60-58 lead that would last for the rest of the game.
 
McCarthur had plenty of impactful baskets, including a jumper that put Shippensburg up 75-62 with 5:33 left in the game. After an Ellis steal that resulted in a Jake Laravie turnover.
 
A layup by Leahey with 1:59 remaining had the Mountain Cats within four points of the lead, making the score, 77-73, but it was not enough as Shippensburg hit four straight free throws to end the game.
 
Both Kellem and McCarthur led the game with 17 points as Shippensburg advances to 9-5 overall and 6-4 in conference competition.
 
The Lady Cats are to continue a three-game homestand against conference opponents in doubleheaders with the Lady Cats. The team is to host Mercyhurst University Saturday at 3 p.m. followed up by Indiana University (Pa.) Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.