Danny Branch (Washington, D.C.) scored 12 points and connected on a pair of three-pointers to become Pitt-Johnstown's all-time leader in three-point field goals made on his way to helping the Mountain Cats earn a 103-51 victory over Penn State-New Kensington, Monday night in the Sports Center. Pitt-Johnstown, which turned a 17-point halftime lead into a 52-point win, improved to 2-0.
Branch, who needed one three-pointer to tie Steve Scorpion's (2002-06) school record of 190, finished the night with two and the school-record.
Penn State-New Kensington kept it close early, but the Mountain Cats gradually pulled away.
The Lions knotted the score 7-7 on an Alex Matta lay-up 4:34 into the game, but Pitt-Johnstown scored the next seven points to build the lead to 16-7 on two Branch free-throws 1:39 later.
Branch then tied Scorpion's school record and pushed the lead to 21-11 at the 12:24 mark.
Pitt-Johnstown went on to outscore Penn State-New Kensington 16-9 the rest of the half to take a 37-20 lead. Nick Novak's (Murrysville, Pa.) lay-up with 2:29 remaining made it a 14-point advantage, before Branch connected on a free-throw with :13 left to push the lead to 17 at the half.
It was all Mountain Cats the rest of the way. Pitt-Johnstown scored the first nine points of the second half and extended the run from the first half to 25-9. Jordan Miller (Vinco, Pa.) hit a three-pointer just before Branch made the 191st of his career to set the school record and give the Mountain Cats a 45-20 lead just over a minute into the half.
The Mountain Cats continued to build on its lead and pushed it out to 52 points on Paul Weatherly's (Johnstown, Pa.) with :31 remaining.
Miller led six Mountain Cats who scored in double-figures with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Patrick Grubbs (Turtle Creek, Pa.) scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Branch had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Andy Byer (Davidsville, Pa.) and Weatherly scored 11 points each, and Noah Hartung (Butler, Pa.) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. Bill Luther (Gibsonia, Pa.) chipped in nine points and tied Grubbs for game-high in rebounds with seven.
Pitt-Johnstown wrapped-up the night shooting 58.8% (40-68) from the field, 50% (13-26) from three-point range and 83.3% (10-12) from the free-throw line. The Mountain Cats held a 48-30 advantage in rebounding. Penn State-New Kensington was held to just 27.7% (18-65) shooting from the floor and 25% (6-24) from behind the three-point line.
Ta-Wayne Steele paced the Lions with 14 points. With the loss, Penn State-New Kensington slipped to 0-2.
The Mountain Cats travel to Davis & Elkins (WV) College for a conference game on Wednesday, before returning home to host the University of Charleston (WV) for a WVIAC game on Tuesday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sports Center.
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