Andrew Shull's career-high 19 points were not enough for the Mountain Cats to upset eighth-ranked West Liberty (WV) as the Hilltoppers pulled away in the second half to close out a 93-76 victory on Wednesday night at their Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex in West Virginia.

Drew Magestro provided 15 points for the Mountain Cats (2-1), and John Paul Kromka added 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Shull dished out a team-high four assists and snatched four boards.

The Mountain Cats finished an impressive 32 of 52 (61.5%) from the field, but the Hilltoppers countered by taking 23 more shots overall, including 25 more 3-point attempts, shooting 14 of 40 (35%) from beyond the arc.

After Pitt-Johnstown took a 5-0 lead to start, West Liberty went on a 15-2 run to go up 15-7 at the 14:17 mark of the first half. However, the Mountain Cats responded with a 13-5 spurt to knot the game at 20-all on a 3-pointer by Magestro.

Less than a minute later, a triple by Shull tied it at 23, but West Liberty grabbed the lead for good just seven seconds later after Christian Montague, who had 13 points, connected from deep.

A pair of free throws by Ryan Smith with 7:16 remaining in the half put the Mountain Cats within four at 29-25, but that was the closest they would get to re-tying the game. The Hilltoppers went into the break up 47-38 and opened the second half by drilling back-to-back 3-pointers to push their lead to 15 just 38 seconds in.

Andy Zuchelli, who chipped in nine points, secured an and-one layup and made the free throw to cut Pitt-Johnstown's deficit to 61-54 with 14:31 to play, but a quick 5-0 run restored a double-digit lead that the Hilltoppers would not relinquish.

Malik Mckinney had a game-high 24 points and added three steals for West Liberty (3-0). Steve Cannady totaled 18 points. Bryce Butler had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

Pitt-Johnstown outpaced West Liberty in points in the paint (44-38) and in bench scoring (31-21).

Pitt-Johnstown will travel to Boca Raton, Florida to take on Lynn University on Monday at 7 p.m. before battling fourth-ranked Nova Southeastern on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Mountain Cats will return home to the Sports Center to face Penn State-Schuylkill on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.