Box Score BOX SCORE

JOHNSTOWN, PA—Clutch free throws and a last second shot gave the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team (1-1) a nail biting win against Pitt-Johnstown (1-1), 74-72.  Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD/Snow Hill) scored the game winning basket as time expired to propel the Huskies to their first win of the season. 

The Huskies went 28-of-54 from the field (51.9%) receiving 12 points from their bench.  Bloomsburg shot an impressive 58.8% from beyond the arc which included six three pointers from Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown).  Defensively the Huskies came up with seven steals and created 13 turnovers.  

In the first half Bloomsburg took an early lead, scoring the game's opening basket but the Mountain Cats of Pitt-Johnstown maintained a slim lead through the first eight minutes, going up by as many as four points.  The Huskies held tough, regaining the lead at the 10:57 mark of the first half at 20-18.

Pitt-Johnstown tied things back up with a basket to make it 20-20 but after that the Huskies would go on a 14-5 run in the next 5:28, pushing their lead to nine points.  During the run five different Huskies scored points with Christmas leading the way with two three pointers.

The Mountain Cats' defense came to play for the final 4:32, limiting the Huskies to two points for the remainder of the half.  BU held a 36-35 lead entering halftime. 

The second half produced 12 lead changes and 11 ties as the game seesawed for 20 minutes.  Bloomsburg went up by as many as five points in the second half, the largest lead either team had in the half. 

With 5:34 left in regulation, Pitt-Johnstown took a two point lead.  From there the Huskies would tie it up three different times without taking a lead themselves.  With the score at 71-70, Jamar Smack (Philadelphia/State College) got sent to the line for two shots with 39 seconds left.  Smack drained both shots, giving him nine points on the day and a one point Husky lead.

20 seconds ran off the clock before Nick Novak was sent to the charity stripe for two shots.  With a chance to take the lead, Novak hit one of two, tying the game at 72 with 19 seconds remaining. 

After a timeout by both teams it would be Bloomsburg's ball with a chance to go for the win.  With seconds remaining, the Huskies went to senior guard Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD/Snow Hill) who laid the ball in with time expiring, giving BU a two point win.

Bloomsburg was led in scoring by Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown)' 18 points, all of which came on three point attempts (6-9).  Christmas also had a team high three steals.  Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton) III was not far behind, scoring 16 points and grabbing six boards while today's hero, Trevon Johnson (Snow Hill, MD/Snow Hill), added 13 points and eight assists, tying a career high.

For Pitt-Johnstown, Nick Novak led the way with 25 points, four rebounds and six assists.  Sporting News Preseason Honorable Mention All-American Patrick Grubbs added 21 points and seven boards.

Bloomsburg will be back in action on Wednesday, November 16 as the Huskies take on the Devils from the University of Sciences.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson Field House in Bloomsburg, PA.