Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Six players scored in double-figures as the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 87-71 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Geissler Gymnasium in Willimantic, Conn.
With its fifth consecutive win, Eastern Connecticut improves to 12-5 and 6-1 in the Little East Conference. The Huskies fall to 10-7 overall and 5-2 in the conference.
The Warriors used a strong second half to earn the 87-71 win. Trailing 41-36 at the half, the Warriors outscored the Huskies 51-30 in the second half, clamping down on Southern Maine defensively to cruise to the win. The Warriors shot a white-hot 68.0 percent (17-for-25) from the field in the second half, including a 5-for-9 mark from three-point range. Conversely, Southern Maine, which shot a solid 55.2 percent (16-for-29) in the first 20 minutes, connected on just 24.4 percent (10-for-41) of its shots in the second half.
The Warriors outscored USM 11-4 in the first three and a half minutes of the second half to assume a 47-45 lead with 16:25 to play and never looked back. Warrior junior forward Mike Garrow (Terryville, Conn.) scored seven of his 15 points in the run, including the go-ahead basket. After Garrow's go-ahead basket, Eastern Connecticut then rattled off an 11-1 run to distance itself from Southern Maine 57-46 with 13:15 to play. The Huskies were never closer than nine points the rest of the way as Eastern rolled to the win.
Senior forward Tyler Hundley (Cheshire, Conn.) led the Warriors with a double-double on 17 points and 10 rebounds. Senior forward Chris Robitaille (Canton, Conn.) tallied 16 points and had seven rebounds and three assists, while Garrow finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Joe Ives added 12 points, while freshman guard Trachone Preston (Enfield, Conn.) and junior guard Brian Salzillo (North Haven, Conn.) each tossed in 11 points.
Senior forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) and junior forward James Odneal (Pontiac, Mich./Bottineau) each scored 16 points to lead the Huskies. Bergeron had a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds and knocked down four three-pointers. Junior guards Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, Maine) and Brandon Graham (St. Charles, Mo. / Brown Mackie) each scored 13 points
Southern Maine hosts Plymouth State on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) in Little East Conference action as part of its "Gorham Night" celebration. Eastern Connecticut travels to Keene State on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) also in LEC action.
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