UNIONTOWN, Pa. – Penn State Beaver built a 13-point halftime lead, and Zach Fetchin threw in 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, as the Nittany Lions shook off Central Maine Community College with a 85-76 victory in a United States Collegiate Athletic Association men’s quarterfinal Thursday night.

The Lions built a 46-33 lead by the half on Tim Tubis’s 16 points and Tony Houghton’s 12 points.

The Mustangs, ranked seventh in the nation, used a full-court press to slow down the Lions in the second half.

For CMCC, Cam Angell dropped in six 3-pointers and added four more points to bring his total to 22 points. Tyler Smithgall also scored 22 and pulled down 11 rebounds. Matt Lyons also had a good night underneath the hoop, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring seven points. Farrell Jean-Gillis scored 12 points.

The Mustangs play Friday at 6 p.m. against an opponent yet to be determined.

Williamson 71, UMA 55

The University of Maine at Augusta men’s basketball team’s run of victories at the end of the season ended Thursday night when Williamson Free School, the nation’s No. 1 ranked team in the small college ranks, pulled away for a 71-55 triumph in the semifinals of the USCAA national tournament.

Williamson (25-1), located in Delaware, took a 26-14 halftime lead and broke the game open in the second half.

UMA’s offense struggled to get on track. L.T. Williams, who scored 30 points in the first-round victory, was held to 12 points, while Deon Cheers only scored two field goals and finished with a team-high 14 points.

The Moose (13-20) drop to the consolation bracket, where it will face the winner of Penn College and Penn State Fayette on Friday.

Women’s basketball

Briarcliffe 58, CMCC 47

McKEESPORT, Pa. – Tamika Pearson tallied a game-high 22 points to lead Briarcliffe College (New York) in a 58-47 victory over Central Maine Community College in second-round United States Collegiate Athletic Association playoff action Thursday.

The two halves were polar opposites for the Mustangs, who fell to Briarcliffe 63-52 during the regular season. The Mustangs came out strong and led for much of the opening frame with solid inside play from Britney Salley and Katie Martin while allowing few open looks on the defensive end.

Trailing by two at the half, the Mustangs were held without a point for over four minutes in the second half allowing the Seahawks to build a double-digit lead down the stretch.

Salley ignited the Mustang attack with 10 points, but was forced to leave the game early in the second half with a chest injury. Tiffany Seams hit three from behind the arc and finished with 10 points while Katie Martin, Kayla Ellis and Michelle Holmquist scored six points apiece.

Leona Virgo also hit double digits for the Seahawks with 10 points while Helena Sargent added seven.

The Mustangs conclude their USCAA tournament play with a game on Saturday at 9 a.m. Their opponent has yet to be determined.