Published: March 05, 2009 11:53 pm      

UPJ comeback sinks Glenville in WVIAC Tournament

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Pitt-Johnstown men’s basketball team staged a dramatic second-half comeback against Glenville State (W.Va.) Thursday night in quarterfinal action at the WVIAC Tournament to earn a 93-85 victory over the Pioneers at the Charleston Civic Center.

The Mountain Cats (22-7) advance to today’s semifinals opposite Wheeling Jesuit

(14-15), a surprise 84-75 winner over West Virginia State.

Marcus Tullis topped the Cats scoring with 27 points and Quinton Davis added 20. UPJ also got 13 points each from Patrick Grubbs and Matt Ionadi.

The Cats outrebounded the Pioneers (20-9) 39-33 with Davis and Grubb each grabbing seven boards. William Sharpe dished out nine assists for UPJ to become the Mountain Cats' all-time leader with 498 career assists. The Greater Johnstown High graduate had needed six assists to tie Emmanuel Richardson for the top spot.

Glenville’s Jamal Holden led all scorers with 30 points and added eight rebounds while Anthony Kimble added 19, Tryvan Leech had 14 and Chase Groves supplied 10.

Down 37-35 at halftime, UPJ outscored Glenville 58-48 after the intermission.