GREENSBURG, Pa. - Spencer Casson scored a season-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough as the Griffins dropped a nailbiter to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, 86-83, on Saturday afternoon.

The loss moves Seton Hill to 6-12 overall and 3-10 in the PSAC. Pitt-Johnstown improves to 9-8 overall and 7-6 in conference play.

After playing to a 40-40 tie in the first half, the Mountain Cats used a strong offensive attack to regain the lead and eventually increase that lead to 17 (74-57) with just 8:09 remaining in the contest. However, the Griffins would slowly chip away at that lead. Spencer Casson got the run started with a dunk and then two free-throws on the next possession. After trading buckets, Tommy Sekunda's triple brought the lead down to single digits, 76-68, with 5:10 on the clock. After almost a minute of scoreless action, Trevor Blondin broke the silence with a three to pull within five, 76-71, with 4:14 on the clock. 

UPJ would regain the momentum and push the lead back out to eight, 80-72, with just under a minute to play. A layup by Casson halted the push to make it 80-74 in favor of UPJ. With 38 seconds left, UPJ's Drew Magestro would miss the back end of two free-throws and Nathan Davis made good on a streaking layup to pull within five, 81-76. After SHU was forced to foul to stop the clock, UPJ's Isaac Vescovi made both of his foul shots, but SHU's Trevor Lecuona responded with a triple on the other end. Seton Hill would foul again after a timeout, but Josh Wise's second shot rimmed out and Trevor Blondin got a dunk on the other end to pull to within three, 84-81, with 13 ticks remaining. Wise hit both of his free-throws to increase the lead to 86-81, but Nathan Davis was fouled while shooting a three on the other end with seconds remaining. Davis stepped up and hit his first two while intentionally missing the third. Casson would grab the rebound and kick it out to a waiting Sekunda. Sekunda's three, however, rimmed out and the Mountain Cats would hold on for the win.

Seton Hill returns to action when they travel to perennial PSAC power Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, January 24th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.