Ryan Smith exploded for a career-high 35 points, including 10 straight when it mattered most down the stretch, as Pitt-Johnstown outlasted Seton Hill 100-97 for a thrilling double overtime victory on Wednesday night at the Sports Center.

The Mountain Cats needed every bit of the senior guard's heroics in the second extra period to climb back to .500 at 10-10 (6-7 PSAC). Seton Hill, which came in fresh off a victory over PSAC West-leading Gannon on Saturday, dropped to 12-9 (5-8 PSAC).

Smith, who finished nine points shy of the single-game school record, was 13-for-24 from the field and tallied eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in a game-high 45 minutes on the court. 

Sophomore Baden Forup earned his second straight double-double and third of the year with 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in 37 minutes of action. Freshman Jay Rose hit three 3-pointers and provided 15 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Graduate transfer Sean Dillon went 3-for-4 at the free-throw line over the final 11 seconds to eclipse 1,000 points for his career and help close out the team he started for in each of his past three collegiate seasons. He scored 819 of his points as a member of the Griffins.  Dillon also dished out 14 assists, three shy of Emanuel Richardson's Mountain Cat single-game record of 17 set against Edinboro on Feb. 15, 1998.

The Mountain Cats clung to late leads near the end of regulation and the first overtime period, only to see the Griffins bounce back and tie the game with a layup and free throw, respectively.

Pitt-Johnstown trailed 92-87 two minutes into double overtime before Smith outscored the Griffins by himself in a 10-2 run punctuated by a jumper with 16 seconds left that gave the Mountain Cats some breathing room.

Dillon extended the lead to three with just three seconds left and a half-court heave at the buzzer from Seton Hill was off the mark to close out a gritty defensive performance. The Mountain Cats flipped 20 turnovers into 25 points and outrebounded the Griffins 42-35.

Pitt-Johnstown shot 53.2% (41-of-77) from the field overall, which included a staggering 65.5% (19-of-29) over the opening 20 minutes. Surprisingly, that wasn't enough to build a lead as the Mountain Cats went into the break down 47-44.

The Mountain Cats found themselves down by as many as 14 points, 71-57, with about 11 minutes to play before storming back with a furious 21-2 run over the next six minutes that propelled them to a slim 78-74 lead with 5:40 remaining. Smith connected on two free throws to put the Mountain Cats up six with 2:45 to play, but Seton Hill scored the final six points of regulation to send the game into the first overtime.

Edir Ortiz had a team-high 19 points for the Griffins, while Kedrick Curtis added 18 points.

The Mountain Cats will have a week off before they welcome Clarion to the Sports Center on Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.