Published: November 19, 2008 11:30 pm      

Pitt-Johnstown pulls away from Seton Hill

GREENSBURG — Danny Branch scored 19 points and Patrick Grubbs added 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the No. 25 Mountain Cats to a 74-60 victory at Seton Hill University on Wednesday to start the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule.

After falling behind 39-30 at halftime, the Mountain Cats (2-0 overall, 1-0 WVIAC) used 63 percent shooting in the second half to outscore the Griffins 44-21.

The Mountain Cats opened the second half on a 17-6 run to take a 47-45 lead at the 11:46 mark.

UPJ never gave up the lead and increased it to 20 points on Branch’s 3-pointer with 4:24 to play.

Branch led four Mountain Cats who scored in double figures with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Greater Johnstown graduate Marcus Tullis and Conemaugh Township grad Andy Byer each scored 10 points. Tullis chipped in seven rebounds, and Byer tied Quinton Davis for the team-high with five assists each.

William Shapre scored nine points and had three assists while Matt Ionadi scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds.

UPJ finished the game shooting an even 50 percent from the field with eight three-pointers.

The Mountain Cats, who out-rebounded Seton Hill 40-36, were also 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Jordan Thomas poured in a game-high 21 points and Cody Boone added nine points and a game-high 15 rebounds to lead Seton Hill, which dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the WVIAC.