Johnstown, Pa. - Trailing Pitt-Johnstown by 19 points early in the second half, Kelvin Parker and the Millersville men's basketball team charged back to within one, but the homestanding Mountain Cats did just enough to thwart the Marauders' comeback and held on for a 81-73 win.
 
Pitt-Johnstown (8-6, 5-5 PSAC) led by 10 points at the half and scored the first nine points of the second period to lead 46-27 with 17:12 remaining. Millersville (6-9, 3-7 PSAC) turned up its defensive intensity, and over the next 10 minutes of action, it turned eight UPJ turnovers into 30 points. Millersville hit 9-of-17 shots in that span and Parker poured in 11 points as it pulled to within 59-57 with 7:13 remaining.
 
The Mountain Cats never relinquished the lead, though. Millersville's shot-making seemed spent after the rally, and over the final seven minutes, the Marauders missed all six 3-pointers they attempted. Pitt-Johnstown steadied its offense and connected on five consecutive shots from the field and 11-of-14 free throws in the same stretch.
 
Parker scored 26 points, giving him 54 in his last two games. He also matched a career-high with six steals and led the team with seven boards. Freshman Sam Light connected on 3-of-7 threes for 15 points, extending his streak of consecutive games in double figures to five. Eddie Callender added 12 points and Shawn Williams chipped in 11.
 
The Marauders recorded a season-high 18 steals—the most since totaling 19 against Lock Haven on Jan. 8, 2011. 34 of Millersville's points came off of turnovers. Pitt-Johnstown countered its 25 turnovers by shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 8-of-16 from three. It was the fourth time this season a team shot better than 50 percent against the Marauders.
 
Millersville fell to 1-6 on the road and has now lost six consecutive road games against PSAC West teams. The game marked the first meeting between the programs since the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, which Millersville won behind now-assistant coach Charlie Parker.
 
The Marauders return home on Saturday to host PSAC East rival Cheyney.