Bloomsburg Defeats Pitt-Johnstown in Men's Basketball

BLOOMSBURG—Matt Jefferson (Philadelphia/George Washington) scored a career-high 35 points and Andrew Jerry (Philadelphia/Olney) hit the game-winning three-pointer to lead Bloomsburg University to an 87-85 season-opening win over Pitt-Johnstown (UPJ) Wednesday night at the Nelson Field House.

The game had a wild-finish as the score was tied at 84-all after a layup by the Mountain Cats Chris Gilliam with 31 seconds to play. After the Huskies worked the ball around the team took a timeout to set up for the final shot. With about seven seconds to play, the Huskies Mike Cheatle (Lower Gwynedd/Hatboro-Horsham) missed a jumper with Ernest Cherry (St. Lucia) getting the rebounds and passing out to Jerry. The sophomore guard then buried a three-pointer with half a second left to play to give Bloomsburg the lead.

However, on the play the Huskies got called for a technical foul for running onto the court in celebration before the horn sounded. After UPJ's Steve Scorpion hit one of two free throws, a last second desperation three-pointer by Gilliam went wide giving Bloomsburg the win.

The game opened with the Huskies grabbing an early 17-14 edge after a three-pointer by Cheatle with 13:14 left in the half. UPJ rallied and took a pushed its lead to eight, 33-25, on a jumper by Marcus Tullis with 5:37 left in the opening period. Bloomsburg then closed the half with a 7-2 run to trail by just one, 45-44, at the break.

In the second half, the team's traded leads for much of the half with the Mountain Cats taking a five point on two occasions before the Huskies came back behind 23-second half points from Jefferson to grab its biggest lead of the half, three-points at 76-73, after a layup from Billy Bryan (Denver/Holy Name).

For the night, Jefferson shot 14-19, including three of five from three-point range, while grabbing six rebounds. In addition, Cheatle scored 15 points, while Bryan added 10 points and eight rebounds.

UPJ (0-1) was led by Gilliam with 25 points, while Nick Mezyk added 18 points and Scorpion 17.

Bloomsburg plays at the Bowie State Tournament Friday night at 7 p.m. against the host school.