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Benson Nets 26 in Huskies Win over UPJ

Game Stats, Play by Play

BLOOMSBURG—Jason Benson (Pittsburgh/Schenley) scored a game-high 26 points to lead Bloomsburg University to a come-from-behind 70-65 win over Pitt-Johnstown in men's basketball action Wednesday night.

The Huskies improve to 2-0 with the win, while UPJ falls to 1-1.

The Huskies started quickly in the game jumping out to a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the game with Benson and Ryan Nenstiel (Nuremburg/Weatherly) hitting three pointers. UPJ rallied and took its first lead of the game at 16-14 when Nick Mezyk hit a three with 11:45 to play in the first half.

Bloomsburg opened up brief leads of three points, the last at 26-23 with 5:45 to play in the opening period. The Mountain Cats, though, came back and used 13-5 run to close out the half and grab a five-point lead at 36-31.

UPJ opened the second half with back to back buckets to stretch its lead to nine points, the largest of the game for either team, before the Huskies came storming back. Seth Scott (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) keyed the run scoring six straight points for the Huskies, including a dunk, before Nenstiel hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 43-all with 16:32 to play in the game.

The team traded leads for the next eight minutes before the Mountain Cats got baskets from Joey Tutchstone and Dwight Hines to grab a 63-59 edge with 6:48 to play.

After Benson hit two free throws to close the gap to 63-61, UPJ's Carlos Cogsdell hit a pair of free throws to push the margin back to four with 4:35 to play. Those would be the final points of the night for the Mountain Cats.

Bloomsburg got to within one on a Nenstiel three-pointer, then tied the score at 65-65 when Benson hit one of two free throws. Later a pair of Matt Jefferson (Philadelphia/Engineering and Science) free throws gave Bloomsburg a 67-65 lead with 1:50 top play. The Huskies then added free throws from both Benson and John Owens (Philaldelphia/Abington Friends) in the final minute to win by five.

Along with Benson's 26 points, Nenstiel finished with 15 points Scott added nine points and 11 rebounds.

UPJ was led by Paul Byer with 15 points and Cogsdell with 13.

Bloomsburg will be at the Bowie State Tip-Off Classic Friday and Saturday in Bowie, MD.