Head Coach Bob Rukavina's Pitt-Johnstown men's basketball team will be making their eighth consecutive appearance in the PSAC Tournament after clinching the No. 3 seed in the Western Division. The Mountain Cats will face Western Division sixth seeded Slippery Rock for the third time this season and the second time in three days in Monday's opening round in the Sports Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
Monday's winner will advance to Wednesday's PSAC Quarterfinals at West No. 2-seeded Mercyhurst.
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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 Eastern Division will host the 2022 semifinals and finals. The tournament winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.
Pitt-Johnstown, ranked sixth in the NCAA Atlantic Region at 19-9 overall and 15-7 in the PSAC West, closed out the 2022-23 regular season with a tough, 71-70 loss at Slippery Rock on Saturday.
John Paul Kromka collected game-highs of 30 points and 11 rebounds, and
Drew Magestro added 13 points for the Mountain Cats.
Kromka's 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds lead four Mountain Cats averaging in double figures in scoring.
Jared Jakubick (11.2 ppg.),
Andrew Shull (11.0 ppg.), and
Ryan Smith (10.1 ppg.) are also scoring in double figures, while and
Joe Batt is adding 9.9 points per game.
Slippery Rock comes in at 17-11 overall and 11-11 in the PSAC. Prior to Saturday's victory over Pitt-Johnstown, the Rock had won two of its previous three games, including a 54-50 home win over Clarion on Wednesday.
Jonathan McFall scored 17 points and
Jomo Goings added 11 points in the win over the Golden Eagles. On Saturday, Khalid Gates had 13 points and Lashon Linsey netted 12 points against the Mountain Cats.
Gates is the Rock's leading scorer (14.0 ppg.) and rebounder (7.3 rpg.), while Amante Britt (13.4 ppg.) and McFall (11.5 ppg.) are also scoring in double figures.
Prior to Saturday's meeting in Slippery Rock, Pitt-Johnstown and the Rock also met on Jan. 21 in the Sports Center and the Mountain Cats came away with a 72-68 victory. Kromka scored 23 points on 8-12 shooting, and
Shull scored 15 points to lead four Pitt-Johnstown double figure scorers.
Jonathan McFall's 20 points and
Britt's 12 points led four Slippery Rock players who scored in double figures.
