JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Pitt-Johnstown could never quite close the gap late in an 87-79 non-conference setback to Ashland on Sunday afternoon in the Sports Center.

The Mountain Cats slipped to 2-2 despite junior guard Vinnie Cugini pouring in a career-high 24 points just one day after scoring a team-high 20 in a win over D'Youville. Cugini hit a team-high four 3-pointers, went 9-for-18 from the field and tied a team-high seven rebounds.

Senior guard Will Kromka connected on three triples and finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Baden Forup provided 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jay Rose added 10 points off the bench.

In a game that featured seven lead changes, the Mountain Cats grabbed their largest lead of the afternoon when Adam Bilinsky scored inside to make it 15-11 at the 15:31 mark of the first half.

Rose connected on a jumper to give Pitt-Johnstown a 20-18 lead a few minutes later before Ashland rattled off six straight points to take the lead for good.

While they stayed within distance throughout the final nine minutes of the half, the Mountain Cats went into the break down 47-38.

Pitt-Johnstown whittled the deficit down to seven with less than three minutes to go when Kromka drilled a three, but it was all the closer they would get. They finished 49.1% (26-of-53) from the field, 47.4% (9-of-19) from beyond the arc and 66.7% (18-of-27) from the free-throw line.

Maceo Williams had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Ashland, which improved to 4-1.

Pitt-Johnstown will host Point Park at 12 p.m. Tuesday in the Sports Center.