Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Senior guard Alex Kee (Bath, Maine/Morse) scored a team-high 17 points to lead three players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies overcame a slow start to defeat the University of Maine at Farmington Beavers 69-52 in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
The win is the third straight for Southern Maine and improves its overall record to 6-2. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Beavers who drop to 7-2 with the loss.
Despite shooting an ice-cold 31.4 percent (11-for-35) from the field in the opening half, Southern Maine held a comfortable 30-21 lead at the break thanks to a quick-hitting 7-0 run to close out the final minute of action in the opening stanza. Ahead 23-21, following a layup from UMF junior forward Andrew Dickey (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), the Huskies rattled off three consecutive baskets on a layup from senior forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine), a three-pointer from junior guard Brandon Tomah (Princeton, Maine/Calais) and a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper from Kee.
The Beavers opened the second half on a 4-0 mini-run on consecutive hoops from junior center Ben Johnson (Manchester, Maine/Maranacook) to trim their deficit to five, 30-25, but the Huskies responded with back-to-back three-pointers from Tomah for a 36-25 lead with just under 18 minutes to play.
The Huskies kept the Beavers at a comfortable distance over the next six minutes and the closest UMaine Farmington would get the rest of the way was seven, 43-26, with 12:10 to play on a layup from Johnson. The Beavers made it a three-possession game with 1:41 to play, 59-50, on a three from junior forward Garrett Clemmer (Windham, Maine), but the Huskies sealed the win with a 10-2 run over the final minutes of play for the 69-52 final.
Kee was 5-for-13 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range for his team-high total. Tomah added 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Bergeron chipped in with 10 points off of the bench. Senior guard Mike Poulin (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) had a career-high seven assists along with five points, four rebounds and two steals.
Johnson led all scorers with a game-high 19 points for the Beavers. He added seven rebounds and was 7-for-14 from the field. Dickey tossed in 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting and Clemmer added 12 points. Junior forward Nate Carson (Orrington, Maine/Brewer) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Southern Maine hosts Westfield State on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) in a non-conference game. UMaine Farmington is off for break and returns to action on Friday, January 4 at Johnson State (7:30 p.m.).
–cac–
