Box Score
Dustin Sleva and Justin McCarthur combined for 12 of fifth-ranked Shippensburg University's 16 3-pointers to help the Raiders build a 22-point second half advantage in an 84-72 PSAC Crossover victory over the Mountain Cats, Wednesday night in Shippensburg.  Isaac Vescovi's 19 points led three Pitt-Johnstown (12-8, 7-7 PSAC West) players who scored in double figures.
 
Shippensburg came out and connected on nine first half 3-pointers to build a 10-point halftime lead.
 
The Raiders hit four 3-pointers in the first four minutes, including three by Sleva, to climb out to a 13-7 lead.
 
Dale Clancy's jumper at the 14-minute mark got the Mountain Cats back to within two, but two more 3-pointers from McCarthur and a basket in the paint by Manny Span capped a 13-4 Raiders run over the next five minutes and extended the lead to 26-15.
 
Shippensburg answered again.  This time with a 12-4 run, capped by an Abe Massaley 3-pointer and a McCarthur free-throw to go in front 40-27.
 
The Mountain Cats scored the next five points, including a bucket from A.J. Leahey, that helped narrow the gap to 42-32 at the half.
 
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Chris Nwandu and Sleva four minutes into the second half got the Raiders lead out to 16 at 56-30.
 
Massaley's lay-up off of a Pitt-Johnstown turnover, followed by a pair of McCarthur free-throws at the 11:45 mark extended Shippensburg's lead to 22.
 
Pitt-Johnstown tried to get back in it.  Two straight 3-pointers by Leahey and one from Clancy got the Mountain Cats to within 13 at 75-62 with 6:15 to play.
 
Another basket from Clancy at 2:02 made it an 11-point game, but it wasn't enough.
 
Along with Vescovi's 19 points, Leahey had 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Clancy finished with 17 points, four rebounds, and five assists for the Mountain Cats.  Josh Wise added six points, four rebounds, and three assists.
 
Leahey moved into ninth-place on the Mountain Cat All-Time Scoring List with 1,400 points. He is also sixth on the all-time rebounding list with 638, and fourth on the all-time 3-point field goals list with 221.
 
Pitt-Johnstown, which outrebounded Shippensburg 42-34, shot 40.8% (29-71) from the field, 8-20 from 3-point range, and 6-8 from the free-throw line.  The Raiders ended the night shooting 47.5% (28-59) from the floor, including 16-34 from behind the 3-point line.  Shippensburg was also 12-13 from the charity stripe.
 
Sleva's 25 points (6-9 3FG) and nine rebounds, and McCarthur's 23 points (6-11 3FG) led the way for the Raiders, who remained undefeated and improved to 18-0 overall and 14-0 in the PSAC East.
 
The Mountain Cats travel to PSAC games at Clarion on Saturday, and at Gannon on February 1.  Pitt-Johnstown will return home to host a conference doubleheader with the Lady Cats against Edinboro on February 4 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.