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            WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Senior center Broderick Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) was an outstanding 7-for-11 from the field en route to a team-high 16 points as the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 73-69 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Geissler Gymnasium.

            With the win, Eastern Connecticut improves to 17-8 overall and 10-4 in the Little East.  Southern Maine ends it season with a 10-15 record and a 2-12 mark in the conference.

            Broderick was one of three Warriors in double figures.  Junior guard Nick Nedwich (Irvington, N.Y.) added 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and had five assists.  Senior forward Bill Roveto (South Windsor, Conn./East Catholic) was 5-for-7 for 11 points. 

            Junior guard Chris Pagentine (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) led all scorers with 17 points.  Senior forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Ocoee) added 16 points and four rebounds  before fouling out, and junior forward Jeremy Jackson (Laplace, La./Independence) tossed in 14 points.

            Trailing by seven, 68-61, with 1:54 to play following a layup by EC's Sawyer, the Huskies outscored the Warriors 6-2 over the next minute and a half to trail 70-67 with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.  Forced to put the Warriors on the line, the home side responded by making three of four down the stretch to hold on for the win.

            Southern Maine finished the game shooting 45.3 percent (29-for-64) from the field.  Eastern Connecticut shot 45.2 percent (28-for-62) from the field, but held a distinct 46-26 advantage on the glass, including 13 offensive boards.

            The game concludes the Huskies' season.  Eastern Connecticut will be the third seed in the upcoming Little East Conference tournament and will host a first round game on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) against sixth-seed Plymouth State University.

-cac-