Published: February 13, 2008 09:39 am         

Beaver holds off Potomac State, 93-89

Cats rally falls short, 93-89, in WPCC title game; on target Cecil shoots past Garrett

KEYSER, W.Va. - Ramon Austin and P.J. McDurfee combined for 53 points and Slade Unis hit a big three-pointer late in the second half to help Beaver hold off Potomac State and win the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championship game, 93-89, Monday evening.

In front of a packed house, Austin, a 6-foot-8 forward, led the Titans' inside attack with a game-high 30 points while McDurfee did his damage from the outside, hitting five three-pointers and getting 23 points.

Potomac State's big two, Eli Crawford and Hosea Berkley, nearly matched the production of Austin and McDurfee.

Crawford, a 6-foot-1 guard, hit 10 field goals and six of seven foul shots for 28 points. Berkley, a 6-foot-1 forward, hit six field goals and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line for 21 points.

Crawford's big night also included nine rebounds and six assists. Berkeley pulled down seven rebounds.

"Beaver has a nice inside/outside game, and we did everything we could to try to stop Austin,'' said Potomac State coach Shawn White. "He was rated No. 20 in the whole state of Ohio last year."

The Catamounts (17-7) played without starting guard Chad Wilson because of a wrist injury suffered in the tournament semifinals on Saturday.

"We ran a six-man rotation, and even though Beaver was 6-foot-8, 6-foot-7, and 6-foot-7 across the front line, we held our own and played very well,'' said White.

"I am very proud of the way our guys played in this game and all year."

Beaver led 50-45 at halftime, and was up by two with about three minutes to play when Unis hit a three-pointer that boosted the margin to five and turned the tide to the Titans for good.

Travis Williams finished with 13 points, Emile Payne had 10 and Nader Shehadeh had nine points and three three-point goals.

Clifton Coles chipped in with 12 points and Unis and Sentez Stennis had nine for Beaver.

Potomac State had beaten Beaver 99-91 in the first regular-season game between the two teams, in Keyser. Beaver won the rematch 89-76 in Monaca, Pa.

Potomac State's next regularly-scheduled game is in the Region XX, Division I Tournament in Hagerstown Feb. 29.