MBSK2-26

ESU-Pitt-Johnstown Men's Basketball

JOHNSTOWN - Three East Stroudsburg University players scored 20 or more points and a fourth broke a school record, but the Warriors dropped a season-ending 91-89 men's basketball decision to Pitt-Johnstown Saturday night.

Point guard R.C. Kehoe led the Warriors with 23 points including seven three-pointers, one shy of his school record of eight set earlier this season. Forward Shahad Abdur Rahkman contributed 22 points and center Quincy Henderson, the team's only senior, closed his career with a best-ever 20 points.

Forward Juwan Justice sank two three-pointers in a 14-point performance giving him a season total of 67 'threes' to break the school record of 66 set by Ro Trachtman last season. Kehoe, who played in only 16 games after joining the team in January, tied Trachtman with 66 three-pointers.

Behind by 12 points, 80-68, with 4:28 remaining, the Warriors outscored UPJ, 14-4, over the next three minutes to cut the margin to two points at 84-82 with 1:08 remaining. Kehoe made two three-pointers and Kyle Kostic one during this stretch.

The Mountain Cats hung on, however, as Kwame Washington sank three free throws and Josue Nieves two in the final ten seconds to wrap up the win. ESU almost stole it at the buzzer as Kostic threw up a full-court heave which banked off the backboard and caromed away.

Senior forward Justin Walther had a big game for UPJ with 25 points and 17 rebounds while Nieves added 19 points, Washington 16, Travis Wisor 12 and Eugene Wilson 11. The Mountain Cats finished with a 19-8 record.

ESU had a 46-39 rebounding edge with Justice grabbing 12 rebounds, Rahkman ten and Henderson nine. UPJ won the game from the foul line, making 16 of 20 free throws while ESU was four for seven from the line.

The Warriors finished with a 6-20 record after an 0-10 start. This was the team's fifth loss by one or two points or in overtime.

Pitt-Johnstown 91

Nieves 7 2-2 19, Washington 4 7-10 16, Walther 10 4-4 25, Wisor 6 0-0 12, Coppola

1 2-3 4, Wilson 5 1-1 11, Gerwert 2 0-0 4, Martin 0 0-0 0, Jeffries 0 0-0 0. Totals: 35 16-20 91

East Stroudsburg 89

Rahkman 11 0-1 22, Smith 3 0-0 7, Justice 6 0-0 14, Kehoe 8 0-0 23, Henderson 8 4-6 20, Rouse 0 0-0 0, Kostic 1 0-0 3, Lynch 0 0-0 0. Totals: 37 4-7 89

Three-Point Goals: UPJ - Nieves 3, Washington, Walther; ESU - Kehoe 7, Justice 2, Smith, Kostic.

Halftime: UPJ, 45-36