Head Coach Bob Rukavina and the Pitt-Johnstown men's basketball team will make their third straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals when the West No. 3-seeded Mountain Cats travel to Erie to take on West No. 2-seeded Mercyhurst on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Wednesday's winner reaches the PSAC Men's Basketball Tournament Semifinals and will face the winner of the East No. 6 West Chester/East No. 1 Millersville game. The PSAC Semifinals and Championship games will take place on Saturday and Sunday and will be hosted by the highest remaining seed in the West.
Admission Prices: $10 adults | $5 student-age
Free admission for PSAC students with valid ID
No Complimentary Tickets or Season Passes accepted except Official PSAC Passes
The top six teams from both the Eastern and Western Division earned an opportunity to compete in the PSAC Men's Basketball Championship. The top two teams from each division earned a first-round bye. The highest remaining seed from the Western Division will host the 2022 semifinals and finals. The tournament winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.
HOW PITT-JOHNSTOWN GOT HERE
Pitt-Johnstown, ranked sixth in the NCAA Atlantic Region at 21-8, looks to bolster is chances of receiving an NCAA Tournament berth and secure its first appearance in the PSAC Semifinals. The Mountain Cats opened-up the tournament with an impressive 78-62 victory over West No. 6 Gannon in Monday's First Round in the Sports Center.
John Paul Kromka had game-highs of 20 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks, and
Jared Jakubick had 17 points to lead four Pitt-Johnstown double figure scorers.
Fred Mulbah collected 14 points and tied his career-high with 12 assists, while
Drew Magestro went 3-of-4 behind the arc and had 11 points.
PITT-JOHNSTOWN LEADERS
Kromka's 17.7 points and 8.1 rebounds lead three Mountain Cats averaging in double figures in scoring. Mulbah is averaging 15.5 ppg. and leads the PSAC in assists 7.7 apg., and
Joe Batt is averaging 11.0 ppg. and 5.4 rpg. The Mountain Cats are also getting 9.5 ppg. from Magestro, 9.5 ppg. from
Ryan Smith, and 7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds from Jakubick.
HOW MERCYHURST GOT HERE
Mercyhurst, the No. 2-seed in the PSAC West is also ranked 17
th in the Division II Coaches Poll at 23-5 under 19
th-year
Head Coach Gary Manchel. The Lakers, who received a first round bye, are coming off of an 80-65 victory over Slippery Rock on Saturday.
Steve Cannady had 20 points and six rebounds, and
Jeff Planutis added 19 points to pace four Mercyhurst players who scored in double figures.
MERCYHURST LEADERS
MiyKah McIntosh's 16.7 points leads three Lakers scoring in double figures and seven averaging 8.5 points or better. Cannady (12.6 ppg.) and Planutis (10.6 ppg.) are also scoring in double figures, while Nicholas Lang is adding 8.5 ppg. and leads the team in rebounding (5.1 rpg.) and assists (91).
SEASON SERIES
Pitt-Johnstown and Mercyhurst met twice in 2021-22 and the Lakers won both match-ups. On January 26 in Erie, Mercyhurst used hot second-half shooting and got 24 points from McIntosh in a 90-61 win. Mulbah's 17 points and Kromka's nine points and seven rebounds led the way for Pitt-Johnstown. The Lakers then held off the Mountain Cats, 70-58, in the Sports Center on February 16. Kromka had 17 points and Mulbah tallied 15 points and a game-high seven assists for Pitt-Johnstown, while McIntosh had 19 points and Lang added 15 points and eight rebounds for Mercyhurst.
