SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Pitt-Johnstown put forth a valiant first half effort before succumbing to Slippery Rock down the stretch of an 85-67 setback on Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.

The Mountain Cats dropped to 11-11 (5-9 PSAC).

Baden Forup once again paced Pitt-Johnstown by notching his ninth straight and 15th double-double of the year with a team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Adam Bilinsky provided 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, while playing a team-high 39 minutes. Vinnie Cugini reached double-figures with 10 points and grabbed four rebounds.

Back-to-back jumpers by Forup less than four minutes in gave the Mountain Cats a 12-7 lead that served as their largest of the game. 

They eventually trailed 33-25 at the 4:38 mark of the first half. However, an efficient 7-0 run that included a conventional three-point play from Forup that allowed the Mountain Cats to claw within 33-32 a little more than a minute later.

Ryan Calo, who had eight points and six rebounds, closed the first-half scoring with a jumper that sent the Mountain Cats into halftime down 42-40.

Pitt-Johnstown stole the momentum out of the break, with Bilinsky hitting a jumper that created a short lived 46-45 advantage roughly two minutes in.

In a game that featured four ties and eight lead changes, the Mountain Cats tied the game for the last time at 48-all when Forup connected on two free throws at the 17:23 mark. Slippery Rock took the lead for good on a free throw just 19 seconds later.

The Mountain Cats were down by only four with less than 10 minutes to go before Slippery Rock pulled away. They finished 45.6% (26 of 57) from the floor and were 68.8% (11 of 16) at the free-throw line. 

Kerwin Prince posted 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Rock, which moved to 14-8 (7-7 PSAC).

Pitt-Johnstown will host IUP at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Sports Center.