The Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats men's basketball team used a strong first half to defeat Cheyney University, 99-62, Tuesday afternoon at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center. The Mountain Cats improved to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC West. Cheyney fell to 1-12 overall on the season.
 
The Mountain Cats used a balanced scoring attack that saw 11 players score and four of which scored in double figures. The Mountain Cats were led by John Paul Kromka's 17-points.
 
With 13:42 remaining in the first half, Kromka's pair of free-throws gave the Mountain Cats a 15-6 lead. The Mountain Cats extended their lead to 12 points when Fred Mulbah found Romano Sebastiani on a 3-pointer.
 
The Mountain Cats opened up a 23-point lead, thanks to a 12-0 run capped on a Kromka layup. Josh Wise ended the half with an old fashioned three-point play to make it, 49-27.
 
The Mountain Cats ended the first half shooting 15-for-27 (55.6 percent) from the field and 15-for-17 (88.2 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
Cheyney's Jalen Branch opened up the second half with a 3-pointer assisted by Brewster Ward III, before Pitt-Johnstown Mulbah answered with one of his own.
 
The Mountain Cats pushed their lead back to 20-points when Wise found an open Adam Kline with 12:51 remaining.
 
Marcin Wiszomirski added 15 points for the Mountain Cats fallowed by Wise who chipped in 14.
 
Cheyney was led in scoring by Cliff St. Juste who scored 16-points followed by Derrick Biney and Branch who chipped in 11-points.
 
The Mountain Cats return to action Dec. 19 when they host Millersville University, before taking on St. Francis University in a scrimmage, Dec 29.