Keyser, W.Va. – Corey Allision scored a game-high 23 points and Breland Walton scored 21 points and pulled a game-high 15 rebounds to lead Potomac State College to an 84-75 win over Howard Community College Saturday afternoon in NJCAA Region XX Division II basketball action at Lough Gymnasium.
Entering Saturday's contest Howard (9-2) carried the No. 20 ranking in the latest NJCAA Division II National Poll. Potomac State (6-3) is receiving votes in the weekly NJCAA rankings after being ranked as high as No. 7 earlier this season.
Allision's 23 points consisted of 10-17 shooting from the floor and 3-4 from the foul line. Walton's 21 points included 8-10 shooting from the field, 2-2 from behind the arc and 3-10 from the foul line, six of his 15 rebounds were on the offensive end.
The Catamounts opened the game by stretching a lead out to 17-6 when Cortney Walton hit a three pointer at the 12:36 mark of the first half, Potomac State's third three pointer in the early going. Howard responded and tied the score at 21 each when Kelvin Sellman hit a three-pointer of his own at the 8:54 mark. The remainder of the first-half saw the teams take the lead two times each and two additional ties before Potomac State could successfully wrestle a 37-34 lead entering the break.
Howard never held the lead in the second half. They were able to tie the score at 41 points each at the 16:11 mark. Potomac State held leads of 54-45 on an Allision layup at 11:53 and 66-55 following a pair of Walton free throws at 7:45.
In the waning moments, Howard was as close as 74-71 with 3:35 left to play. Every time the Dragons pulled close the Catamounts, led by Allision and Walton had an answer. Allision scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half.
Potomac State Head Coach Neil Epstein noted his teams' performance under pressure. "When we needed plays down the stretch, we made plays down the stretch. Breland was excellent down the stretch, CJ (Allision) was excellent down the stretch."
Cortney Walton had 10 points as the only Catamount joining Allision and Walton in double figures.
High scorers for Howard CC were Sellman and Naquan Williams-Day with 17 points each and Daeshawn Eaton with 14 points.
The Catamounts will participate in the Harford Hoops Classic on Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21. where they will square off against traditional NJCAA Division I powerhouses Harcum College and Monroe College (N.Y.). Both Harcum and Monroe are receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I National Poll.