WHEELING, W.Va. — Danny Branch poured in a game-high 26 points, but Wheeling Jesuit erased an 11-point first half deficit and handed Pitt-Johnstown a 91-88 overtime road loss to tip-off the WVIAC schedule on Tuesday night.
The Mountain Cats are 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
In a first half full of runs, Wheeling Jesuit opened-up a
7-3 lead 1:37 into the game, but Branch’s 3-pointer tied the score at 7 1:35 later.
The Mountain Cats continued their 19-5 run and took a 22-12 lead when Nick Novak hit two of Pitt-Johnstown’s eight first-half 3-pointers, and Pat-rick Grubbs followed with a layup with 13:25 to play.
Andre Harris’ 3-pointer cut the Cardinals’ deficit to 32-29, before Andy Byer scored five of the next eight UPJ points to increase the lead to 40-29 at the 4:25 mark.
Wheeling Jesuit answered with a 12-2 run of its own to cut the lead to 42-41 at halftime.
The Cardinals tied the score at 46 early in the second half before taking a 59-56 lead on two Harris free-throws with just over 13 minutes left to play.
Branch answered with a basket to put the Mountain Cats up 61-60 at the 11:25 mark, but Wheeling Jesuit outscored Pitt-Johnstown 12-1 over the next 2:35 to build a 71-61 lead.
UPJ battled back with three straight buckets from Grubbs and back-to-back 3-pointers from Jordan Miller and Byer to cut it to 74-72 with 3:18 on the clock.
With the score tied at 79 and :05 remaining, Branch's jumper in the lane rimmed out to force overtime.
After a tie and three lead changes in the overtime period, Harris connected on a 3-pointer, and Steve Catich made a lay-up to put Wheeling Jesuit up for good at 88-83 with less than two minutes to play.
Byer’s 3-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer fell short and Pitt-Johnstown suffered the three-point loss.
Branch led all scorers, and Grubbs had 19 points and nine rebounds. Byer added 15 points (three 3-pointers), four rebounds and seven assists.
The Mountain Cats return home to start a five-game home stand against California at 4 p.m. Saturday as part of a Sports Center doubleheader with the Lady Cats, who will play host to Ohio Dominican.
