WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Pitt-Johnstown was on target early and often but could not hang on late in a hard-fought 81-72 setback to West Chester on Saturday afternoon in a PSAC crossover matchup.

The Mountain Cats dropped to 5-3 (0-1 PSAC) despite a 64% (16 of 25) performance from the floor that included a 4 of 5 mark from beyond the arc in the first half.

Adam Bilinsky scored 16 points and amassed four steals, while Jay Rose provided 16 points and three steals. Vinnie Cugini contributed 14 points and five rebounds, and Baden Forup added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.

In a game that was tied eight times and featured eight lead changes, neither team led by more than four points more than midway through the first 20 minutes. Bilinsky knocked down a 3-pointer at the 8:30 mark to give the Mountain Cats a 28-22 edge.

Another three from Bilinksy with three and a half minutes to go in the half afforded the Mountain Cats their largest lead to that point at 38-30. They went into the locker room up 43-35 after Nick Watts hit a jumper with one second left on the clock.

Rose connected on a 3-pointer less than two minutes into the second half to extend Pitt-Johnstown's advantage to as many as 11. But to its credit, West Chester responded with a game-changing 16-0 run to take the lead. 

Cugini went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line to tie the game at 51-all before the Rams scored six straight points to pull ahead for good.

Pitt-Johnstown finished 54% (27 of 50) from the field and 38.5% (5 of 13) from distance. The Mountain Cats turned 21 West Chester turnovers into 22 points. The Rams improved to 6-1 (1-0 PSAC) behind a game-high 26 points from Ruben Rodriguez Jr.

Pitt-Johnstown will return to the Sports Center to host West Virginia Wesleyan in a non-conference matchup that will tip-off at 7 p.m. Monday.