Longtime Pitt-Johnstown men’s basketball coach Bob Rukavina joined the 500-win club Saturday as the Mountain Cats defeated visiting Slippery Rock, 72-69.

Rukavina, a Lower Burrell native who has traveled to and from his hometown to work for over three decades to coach UPJ, is now 500-347 since taking over the program in 1989-90.

Senior guard Josh Wise, a Washington High School graduate, made a key 3-pointer wih 1:05 to play, and came up with a steal with 6.4 seconds left to seal the win for the Mountain Cats (15-3, 9-2 PSAC).

Wise had 21 points, Marcin Wiszomirski had 12 and Fred Mulbah added 10 to go with eight assists.

Rukavina, 63, ranks 13th among active D-II coaches in wins.

He also had coaching stints at CCAC-Allegheny and CCAC-South, along with Riverview High School in Oakmont.

With a 72-69 win over Slippery Rock Saturday in the Sports Center Mountan Cat basketball coach Bob Rukavina earned his 500th career victory pic.twitter.com/Reop3AOJaq

— PittJohnstownSports (@MtnCatAthletics) January 18, 2020

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