INDIANA, Pa. — The West Virginia Wesleyan (0-2) men’s basketball team concluded play at the IRMC/Hilton Garden Inn Classic with a 77-49 loss to Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday inside the Kovalchick Complex.
Leaders for WVWC
Jayden Hibbitt led the Bobcats in scoring with 16 points. Braeden McGrew added 10 points with a pair of steals. Tommie Pope ripped away four steals and Marvel McGowan distributed four assists. Shawn Moran finished 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Leaders for Pitt-Johnstown
John Paul Kromka put together a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. Joe Batt scored 15 points for the Mountain Cats.
Inside the First Half
John Ibukunoluwa connected on a jumper as Wesleyan trailed 6-4 with 17:42 left. Pitt-Johnstown responded with a 12-0 run to lead 18-4 with 14:36 remaining. The Mountain Cats limited WVWC to 15 first half points as UPJ controlled a 35-15 halftime advantage.
Inside the Second Half
Nearly five minutes into the second half, Pope forced back-to-back steals that led to layups on the other end by McGowan and Pope as the deficit was cut to 45-29. With 8:56 to play in regulation, Moran continued his hot shooting start with a trifecta as the Bobcats trailed 56-38.
Up Next
WVWC men’s basketball heads back to Buckhannon for its home opener inside Rockefeller Center against Seton Hill on Monday at 6 p.m.
