JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Pitt-Johnstown dictated the tempo in the second half, but it wasn't enough to complete a comeback in a 73-71 loss to Edinboro on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Center.
The Mountain Cats fell to 11-13 (5-11 PSAC) despite outscoring the Scots 44-35 over the final 20 minutes in what was veteran coach Bob Rukavina's 1,000th career game at the helm.
Junior forward Baden Forup was again dynamic by way of securing his team-leading 11th straight and 17th double-double of the season with game-highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds. Cedric Rault contributed 13 points, a game-high seven assists and three steals.
Adam Bilinsky provided 11 points, six boards and three assists, while Will Kromka pitched in 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Down five with 57 seconds to play, Forup scored on back-to-back layups that were sandwiched by an Edinboro turnover to cut it to 72-71.
The Scots went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line with 7.5 seconds left that gave the Mountain Cats possession with a chance to win it. Bilinsky received a quality look in the final seconds, but his 3-point attempt deflected harmlessly off the back iron as the buzzer sounded.
Down by as many as 12 early on in the second half, Vinnie Cugini scored on a layup that trimmed the deficit to 55-50 with 10:28 to play. It was 57-55 after Forup notched a layup at the 8:27 mark. The Mountain Cats made it a one-possession game on three occasions over the final three minutes, but could not close the gap.
The Mountain Cats finished 41.3% (26 of 63) from the floor and 64.3% (18 of 28) at the free-throw line, including a 7-for-10 mark over the final 20 minutes.
Edinboro scored the first seven points of the game before Pitt-Johnstown got back within two on a 7-2 run capped by two free throws from Cugini. The Mountain Cats trailed by as many as 11 in the first half before going into the break down 38-27.
Evan Berger posted a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds for the Scots, who moved to 12-11 (8-8 PSAC).
Pitt-Johnstown will host California (Pa.) in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday to wrap up a three-game homestand. With four regular-season contests to play, the Mountain Cats are just two games behind Seton Hill for the final spot in the PSAC Tournament.
