Pitt-Johnstown dropped its season opener to Urabana (Ohio) University Friday, 80-74 at the S&T Bank Atlantic Region Challenge hosted by Indiana (Pa.) University in the Memorial Field House in Indiana.

A.J. Leahey was the Mountain Cats' leading scorer with 19 points and was also the team leader in rebounds and assists with seven and six respectively.

The game marked the second straight year the two teams played against each other at the regional challenge in Indiana. Pitt-Johnstown was able to earn a 90-85 against Urbana Nov. 14, 2015.

In this season's meeting, Pitt-Johnstown established a 14-8 early in the first half after Isaac Vescovi made a layup with an assist from Leahey at 14:44. The Blue Knights were able to put together a 6-1 run to cut their deficit to 15-14 just over two minutes later when Charles Sweatt-Washington made a basket of his own.

The Mountain Cats were able to hold off the Blue Knights from tying until the 5:15 first half mark when Carlas Jackson hit a three-pointer with an assist from Dalton Payton to even the score at 27-27.

Pitt-Johnstown players were able to answer the Blue Knights' challenge by regaining the lead after a bucket from beyond the arc from Josh Wise and another layup from Vescovi to take a five-point lead with 3:54 remaining until halftime.

Wise finished the game with 15 points and Vescovi totaled 12.

The Blue Knights responded by scoring nine of the next 13 points to capture their first lead, 38-36 when Jackson drained a three-pointer off of a turnover by Vescovi.

Urbana maintained a one-point lead at halftime, but the Mountain Cats went into the locker room with momentum after a three-pointer by Leahey, assisted by Levi Masua with 26 seconds to go. Leahey finished the half with 12 points.

Leahey's performance gives him 1,026 career points, 168 career three-pointers and 501 career rebounds.

The teams traded the lead three times to start the second half. Sweatt-Washington scored on a second chance layup after an offensive rebound to give the Blue Knights a 49-48 lead at 14:51, which started a 19-2 run, lasting 5:02 and was capped off by another Blue Knight second chance layup.

This time it was made by Jahmere Howze to give Urbana a 66-50 advantage with 9:49 left in the game. Howze led the game in points with 20 and was one of four Blue Knights to grab at least seven rebounds.

Pitt-Johnstown got four points within the lead going down the stretch largely due to Jake Laravie scoring eight points during the eight minutes the Mountain Cats cut their deficit from 66-50 to 74-70. Laravie finished with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.

A layup from Dale Clancy pushed UPJ to within four points at 1:24, but the Mountain Cats missed two layups and a three-pointer in the game's last 80 seconds, which helped the Blue Knights hold on to a six-point victory.

Both will compete for a second time tomorrow in the Atlantic Region Challenge in Indiana. The Mountain Cats (0-1) are to play 5:15 p.m. against Lincoln University while Urbana (1-0) is to take on the host university, Indiana (Pa.) following the first game.

Following the S&T Bank Atlantic Region Challenge, Pitt-Johnstown is to host Carlow University Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center in a non-conference matchup.