Box Score
A.J. Leahey had a game-high 25 points along with seven rebounds as Pitt-Johnstown defeated Clarion University 67-65 thanks to a game-winning jump shot from Nate Snodgrass with five seconds left Saturday afternoon in PSAC West Division action at the Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion.
 
Every member of the Mountain Cats active roster produced at least one point as they advance to 16-10 overall and 12-9 in conference play with the win to clinch a first-round home game in the PSAC Championship Tournament.
 
Leahey went 5-for-7 from three-point field goal range, which now puts him in ninth place on the Mountain Cat All-Time Three-Point Field Goal list with 159. He is also 46 points away from 1,000 career points.
 
Clarion started the game with a 9-0 lead that was finished off by a three-pointer from B.J. Andrews off of an assist from Rob Agurs. Pitt-Johnstown would score seven of the next ten points to cut the Golden Eagles' lead to 12-7 at the 16:04 first half mark.
 
The Golden Eagles followed with another extensive scoring run, this time it was 10-2, and lasted until there was 12:47 remaining in the half and gave them a 22-9 advantage. A pair of free throws from Agurs put Clarion ahead 30-15 at 8:41, their biggest lead of the first half.
 
Pitt-Johnstown followed with a bigger scoring run then the Golden Eagles could produce in the whole half as they went on a 16-3 run, which was highlighted by eight points from Leahey to get the Mountain Cats within two points of the lead, 33-31 with 4:51 left in the half.
 
After Clarion's Andre' Anthony answered with a layup to put the Golden Eagles back ahead by four points, but Pitt-Johnstown scored the next seven points to gain a 38-35 lead with 1:44 remaining in the half after a three-pointer from Jake Laravie. A free throw from Andrews and a jumper from Justin Grant tied the game at 38 points to close out the half.
 
Clarion scored the first four points of the second half after a jumper from De'Ondre Terrell and a pair of free throws from Tim Gill to give their team a 42-38 just over a minute into play. Isaac Vescovi tied the game at 42 points with 18:05 left and was followed by a dunk from Rasaun Mosley to give the Mountain Cats a 44-42 lead at 17:30.
 
The Golden Eagles were able to tie the game at 46, 48 and 50 points as well as 60, 64 and 65 points but could not ultimately overcome the deficit presented to them by Pitt-Johnstown even though they outscored the Mountain Cats, 23-21 after Mosley's dunk.
 
Pitt-Johnstown's lead did not grow more than six points when Mosley hit a free throw after being fouled by Anthony at 7:42 to give Mountain Cats a 56-50 advantage. The fair throws did, however, help them keep a sizeable advantage heading into the last minute of play.
 
Anthony led the Golden Eagles with 21 points as they drop to 13-15 overall and 10-12 in conference play with the loss.
 
The Mountain Cats are to celebrate senior night and close out the 2015-16 regular season with a conference doubleheader with the Lady Cats against Slippery Rock University on Wednesday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sports Center.