John Paul Kromka poured in 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Fred Mulbah knocked down a fadeaway jumper with :36 remaining that put the Mountain Cat men's basketball team up by four in an 84-81 PSAC Western Division victory over Slippery Rock, Wednesday night in the Sports Center.  Pitt-Johnstown, receiving votes in both the NABC and D2SIDA National Polls, made it 11 wins in its last 13 games and improved to 18-5 overall and 14-3 in the PSAC West.
 
Kromka, the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week, led the Mountain Cats with 23 points on 10-12 and 3-3 from the line.  Kromka also pulled down eight rebounds, dished out five assists, and blocked two shots.  Joe Batt had 17 points, including 3-4 from 3-point range, while Ryan Smith scored 14 points, and Mulbah added 10 points and a career-high 14 assists for the Mountain Cats.  Jared Jakubick and Andy Zuchelli each netted eight points.
 
Pitt-Johnstown fell behind 23-11 on a Bobby Clifford bucket midway through the opening half.  The Mountain Cats, who shot in 56.7% in the opening 20 minutes, responded with a 13-2 run over the next 3:25, sparked by four points off the bench from Caiden Landis and a basket in the paint from Kromka, to cut it to 25-24.
 
After Frankie Hughes' 3-pointer got the Rock's lead back out to 10, Pitt-Johnstown responded again.  This time with two Jakubick free-throws and another basket from Kromka in the final minute to make it 44-39 at the half.  
 
Pitt-Johnstown took control to begin the second half.  The Mountain Cats outscored Slippery Rock, 16-9 over the first 4:24 to take a two-point lead.  Smith's 3-pointer at 16:46 make it a one-point game, and Kromka's layup and free-throw a minute later put Pitt-Johnstown on top 55-53.
 
A 3-pointer from Batt at 12:57 increased it to six and it stayed close the rest of the way.
 
However, every time the Rock would get close, the Mountain Cats would answer with a big basket and never trail the rest of the way.
 
Still leading by two, Mulbah knocked down the fadeaway with :39 seconds to play to got the lead back out to four, before Mulbah and Batt each hit two free-throws in the final :14 that sealed the victory.
 
The Mountain Cats, who held a 29-10 advantage in bench scoring, finished the night shooting 55% (33-60) after shooting 56.7% in the first half and 53.3% in the second half.  Pitt-Johnstown hit nine of its 21 3-pointers and was 9-12 from the line.  Slippery Rock shot 48.5% (32-66).
 
Hughes had a game-high 24 points and Tyler Frederick added 15 points and eight rebounds for Slippery Rock, which fell to 11-10 overall and 7-7 in the PSAC West.
 
The Mountain Cats head to Clarion for a PSAC game on Saturday, before hosting a conference doubleheader with the women's team against California (PA) on Monday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sports Center.