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            GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Ocoee) recorded his second double-double of the season scoring 13 points and grabbing a season-high 12 rebounds to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 79-62 win over the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls in a non-conference men's basketball game at the Warren Hill Gymnasium Sunday afternoon.

            The win is the third straight for the undefeated Huskies.  It is the best start for the Huskies since the 1998-1999 season when they started the season at 6-0.  UMPI falls for the fourth straight time in as many games.

            Senior guard Corteze Isaac (Germantown, Md./Northwest) led the Huskies with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Smith and junior guard Chris Pagentine (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) each scored 13 points.  Pagentine's 13 points was a career high for the 6-foot-2 guard.  Junior forward Leif O'Connell (Hodgdon, Maine/Winchendon) added 10 points, five rebounds and four steals.

            Sophomore guard Gerardo Vasquez (Houston, Texas) led the Owls with a game-high 19 points, including four three-pointers.  Senior forward Clifford McDonald (Sarasota, Fla.) added 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while sophomore forward Patrick Manifold (Great Yarmouth, UK) tossed in 17 points and had five steals.

            In a sluggish first half which featured 32 turnovers, the two sides were tied 26-26 with 4:35 to play before the Huskies were able to shake free of the Owls with a 7-2 run to take a 33-28 lead at the break.  Smith and sophomore guard Alex Kee (Bath, Maine/Morse) each connected on three-pointers in the run.

            The Owls scored six unanswered points in the opening two minutes of the second half to take a slim 34-33 lead with 17:59 to play.  Manifold scored four of the Owls' six points in the run.  After the opening run by the Owls, the teams battled back and forth with neither leading by more than two baskets.

            With 9:31 to play and the teams knotted up at 48-48, the Huskies took control of the game with a 15-5 run over the next four minutes to open up a 63-53 lead with 5:38 to play.  Pagentine netted six of the Huskies points in the pivotal run.  From there USM outscored the Owls, 16-9, down the stretch for the 79-62 final.

            Southern Maine travels to Bates College on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). UMPI travels to Thomas College on December 1 (7:00 p.m.).

-cac-