Pitt-Johnstown overcame a seven-point deficit with under-four minutes remaining to defeat Clarion (Pa.) University, 71-70, Wednesday night at the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center. Pitt-Johnstown improved to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the PSAC West. Clarion fell to 3-7 on the season and 1-5 in the conference.  

After a Stevan Rodriguez steal and layup to open up the game, Romano Sebastiani found an open Josh Wise for three, to give the Mountain Cats the early 3-2 lead. With 17:08 remaining in the first half, John Paul Kromka found Wise again for three, to make it 6-5.

Pitt-Johnstown went on an 11-2 run, capped off by a Fred Mulbah layup to make it, 17-9 with 13:07 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles responded with a 14-2 run to make it 24-19, with 7:04 remaining in the half. Pitt-Johnstown rallied to end the half on a 16-4 run to make it 35-28.

The Mountain Cats opened up a 40-31 lead when Sebastiani found Mulbah for three with 17:42 left in the game. Clarion's Elijah Cottrill hit a pair of free throws to tie it at 51, with 9:27 remaining.

Clarion opened up a 64-57 lead off a Rodriguez steal and layup with 4:16 remaining. Pitt-Johnstown rallied to tie it at 65 on a Kromka layup with 2:01 left. Kromka made it 67-67 on a layup with 1:28 left, before giving Pitt-Johnstown the lead, 69-67 with 39 second remaining.

Offensively, Pitt-Johnstown was led by Kromka's 20-points and seven rebounds. Wise finished the night with 18 points and six rebounds. 
Mulbah and Caiden Landis finished the night with 11 points.

Clarion was led by Rodriguez, who finished the night with 20-points and 13 rebounds. Khari Williams and Elijah Cottrill finished with 19 points.

The Mountain Cats return to action Saturday afternoon when they travel to take on the  No. 3  Indiana (Pa.) Crimson Hawks, before traveling to Gannon University Jan. 9.